Palace agrees with decision to subpoena Sara Duterte tax, bank records

Palace press officer Claire Castro (INQUIRER file photo / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA) MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Tuesday said the Senate impeachment court has the mandate to subpoena the tax and bank records of Vice President Sara Duterte after the tribunal granted the House prosecution panel’s request for the said documents. The statement was made after the Senate impeachment court granted the House prosecution panel’s request to subpoena the financial records of the vice president, her husband, Manases Carpio, and several of their businesses. READ: Impeachment court grants subpoena for Duterte’s financial records Article continues after this advertisement At a briefing, Palace press officer Claire Castro noted that the Office of the President has yet to receive any request for the disclosure of the documents. The President does not need to authorize the opening of Duterte’s bank records, as the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, already holds the mandate to issue subpoenas for her bank documents. The President’s authorization, however, is required if prosecutors seek to access Duterte’s BIR records, as per Section 71 of the National Internal Revenue Code. “However, from our perspective, it is more appropriate for the impeachment court itself to issue the orders and subpoenas, considering that the President—and the office of the presidency—is also held by an impeachable official,” Castro said in Filipino. “And if, for example, in the coming years or under future administrations, the President is the one being impeached, wouldn’t the impeachment court order the release of the BIR records if necessary, since the President facing impeachment would likely not agree to their disclosure?” added Castro. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Senate okays subpoena for VP’s tax, bank docs In granting the House prosecution’s request to subpoena Duterte’s bank and tax records, Senate impeachment court presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero anchored the ruling based on the 2012 impeachment trial of then-Chief Justice Renato Corona. Article continues after this advertisement “The request for subpoenas directed to the concerned banking institutions, covering the accounts of the respondent, Atty. Manases Carpio, separately or jointly, the partnership of Carpio Lawyers, and the nineteen listed corporate entities, is granted,” Escudero said. The banks were directed to submit the documents to the Clerk of Court at 9:00 a.m. on July 30, 2026. /gsg Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.