After a months-long fight that began in the House, the Senate impeachment court on Monday approved subpoenas for Vice President Sara Duterte’s key financial documents, capping separate legal battles over bank records, tax returns, and anti-money laundering files.
After days of convening as an impeachment court, the Senate made a significant decision on Monday, granting the House of Representatives prosecution panel’s request to subpoena Vice President Duterte’s tax records and partially granting its bid to obtain the bank records of her and her husband, Manases Carpio.
The House prosecution panel sought the issuance of subpoenas for the documents as part of its presentation of evidence under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President.
Article II charges her with culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust over allegations of undeclared and unexplained wealth.
Banking institutions
Presiding Officer Senator Francis Escudero said the subpoenas are directed to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), and other banking institutions.
Escudero, however, clarified that the BIR may refuse to comply by invoking any of the exemptions under the National Internal Revenue Code.
While the impeachment court allowed institutions to release Duterte’s financial records, it also denied requests to subpoena other documents.
Court grants access to key financial records
Citing the Family Code, the impeachment court granted subpoenas for the peso bank accounts and tax records of Duterte and her husband.
It also subpoenaed the peso bank accounts and BIR tax records of 19 corporate entities and one partnership, particularly the Carpio Lawyer Partnership.
The impeachment court ruled that the prosecution had made a prima facie showing of the respondent’s connection to the 20 entities based on pre-marked General Information Sheets and the respondent’s admitted 2022–2025 Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs).
It also approved the request for historical bank and tax records from 2007 to 2021, as well as AMLC records covering Duterte, her husband, the 19 corporate entities, and the one partnership.
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Court blocks access to some financial records
At the same time, the Senate impeachment court did not allow the subpoena of any foreign currency deposits of all targets, citing the Foreign Currency Deposit Act, which provides for absolute secrecy.
It also did not approve requests for the BIR tax records, peso bank accounts, and AMLC records of JTC Group of Companies Inc. and Pikimong Pikimong Philippines Corp.
Defense and prosecutors clash over subpoenas
During Monday’s trial, the Vice President’s defense team opposed the prosecution’s request, describing the move as a “fishing expedition” for evidence that violated due process.
Defense counsel Michael Poa opposed the prosecution’s request, arguing that it sought an excessive number of documents without first establishing an adequate factual basis for issuing the subpoenas.
In response, House prosecutor Chel Diokno denied that the subpoenas were part of a “fishing expedition,” asserting that investigators already had sufficient evidence to justify their issuance.
“If we had no basis at all, if we did not know what was in the AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) reports, you may call it a ‘fishing expedition.’ But in this particular case, we know because these are matters and records presented before the Committee on Justice,” he said.
The recipients of the subpoenas are required to submit all the necessary documents to the impeachment court on July 30.
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