Highlights: Day 7 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 20, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – The Senate impeachment court granted prosecutors access to Vice President Sara Duterte’s bank, tax, and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records, including those of her husband Manases Carpio, and their businesses on Day 7 of the impeachment trial. The court, however, excluded foreign-currency deposits and two firms from being subpoenaed as they have no clear links to her. READ: LIVE UPDATES: Impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte | July 20, 2026 Article continues after this advertisement The ruling is tied to Article II of the Articles of Impeachment against the vice president alleging unexplained wealth. Presiding Officer Francis Escudero anchored the ruling on precedent from the 2012 impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona, and the court found the records prima facie relevant and not a fishing expedition, covering transactions from 2007 to 2021. The court also rejected the defense’s argument that AMLC records are protected from compulsory processes, saying the Supreme Court has already allowed the Sandiganbayan and Congress to subpoena such reports. The subpoena does not cover foreign-currency deposits of Duterte, Carpio, and their associated entities, which Escudero said must remain confidential unless the depositors provide written consent. The court also denied the request covering two companies, JTC Group of Companies and Pikimong Pikimong Philippines Corporation, citing insufficient evidence connecting them to the respondent. Escudero separately noted that the issuance of the BIR subpoena is a preliminary procedural step that does not by itself authorize the disclosure, inspection, or admission of tax records into evidence. Article continues after this advertisement House prosecutor Chel Diokno called the ruling a victory for the Filipino people and described it as a well-reasoned decision, saying the prosecution’s goal is simply to establish the whole truth about Duterte’s finances. Defense spokesperson Michael Poa, meanwhile, said the team had anticipated the ruling and did not consider it a major setback. Other developments: Article continues after this advertisement Separate courtroom tensions surfaced on Day 7 when Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo urged his fellow senator-judges to take personal grievances outside the trial, saying the impeachment court’s time should not be spent on matters unrelated to the case. Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano responded with his own manifestation, saying it is difficult to debate legal matters with non-lawyers, a remark directed at Tulfo following his intervention. Presiding Officer Escudero also ruled that issues unrelated to the articles of impeachment would be deferred to the Senate’s regular legislative session. Senator Rodante Marcoleta separately submitted a letter of manifestation asking the court to recognize his vote in the proceedings, citing a rule from the Estrada impeachment trial that allowed senators unable to vote in person to still participate through a mechanism provided by the Senate president. Sources Defense team on granting of subpoena: Expected, not a huge setback Diokno: Senate subpoena on Duterte finance docs a ‘victory’ for people Impeach court subpoenas Sara Duterte finance records Marcoleta asks impeachment court to recognize his vote Escudero: Subpoena for BIR records does not guarantee disclosure Duterte impeachment trial: Senate junks bid vs AMLC report Sara Duterte foreign deposits excluded from bank subpoena Impeachment court exempts 2 firms from bank, tax records subpoena Senate needs VP financial docs to rule on unexplained wealth – Diokno Cayetano: Hard to argue legal matters with non-lawyers Impeachment court grants subpoena for Duterte’s financial records Erwin Tulfo to senators-judges: Bring grievances outside impeachment court WATCH: Duterte trial issues separate from Senate session – Escudero Prosecs hope senator-judges will be politically neutral in Duterte trial Editor’s note: This update was generated with the aid of artificial intelligence based on Inquirer.net, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Cebu Daily News articles and reviewed by a human editor./ dp Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.