Malacañang on Tuesday said the Senate, acting as an impeachment court, has the authority to issue subpoenas for Vice President Sara Duterte’s tax and bank records if these are found necessary in the ongoing impeachment proceedings.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said records involving taxes and possible unexplained wealth are generally obtained through proper legal processes, including court orders.
“Sa ating pagkakaalam, ang anumang kaso na may patungkol sa mga buwis at patungkol sa mga unexplained wealth na maaaring makita o ma-substantiate ng mga record na ito. Ito ay maaaring ipatawag through a court order,” Castro said during a press briefing.
She said the Senate currently has the mandate to determine how it will carry out its procedures as the impeachment court.
“Sa ngayon ang Senado ay kumakatawan at pumapapel bilang impeachment court at sila ang mayroong karapatan at mandato kung paano nilang ipatutupad ang kanilang proseso,” Castro added.
Castro clarified that no request has been submitted to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. seeking approval for the release of Duterte’s tax or bank records.
She said such authority should come from the impeachment court itself rather than the President, noting that seeking presidential approval could raise concerns in future impeachment cases.
Castro explained that the President is also an impeachable official under the Constitution, and allowing a sitting president to decide on the release of records involving another impeachable official could create questions if similar situations arise in the future.
She said that under a future administration, an impeachment court could likewise order the release of records from agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue if these are deemed relevant to proceedings against a sitting president.
The Palace official also said it would be unlikely for an official facing impeachment proceedings to voluntarily agree to disclose sensitive financial documents.
The Senate impeachment court on Monday approved the request of the House of Representatives prosecution team to subpoena the bank and tax records of Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio.
The court ruled that the requested documents were relevant and specific to the prosecution’s effort to establish allegations of unexplained wealth against the Vice President.
The subpoenas cover records involving at least 19 companies and one partnership. However, the impeachment court did not grant all requests for financial documents submitted by the prosecution.
Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN
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