MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court on Monday authorized subpoenas for Vice President Sara Duterte’s bank, tax and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records, granting House prosecutors access to financial documents they said are essential to proving allegations that she amassed unexplained wealth.
The ruling covers the financial records of Duterte, her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, 19 companies allegedly linked to the couple, and Carpio’s law partnership. The impeachment court said the documents are prima facie relevant in determining whether Duterte’s assets and financial transactions were disproportionate to her lawful income.
The court excluded foreign-currency deposits from the subpoenas, citing confidentiality protections under Republic Act No. 6426. It also denied requests involving JTC Group of Companies Philippines Inc. and Pikimong Pikimong Philippines Corp., saying prosecutors failed to establish sufficient links between the companies and Duterte or Carpio.
Presiding officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the subpoenas only compel the production of records and do not automatically make them admissible as evidence.
“The issuance of a subpoena is merely a preliminary procedural step and does not, by itself, authorize the disclosure, inspection, or admission of the requested tax records into evidence,” Escudero said.
Escudero said the requests were “reasonably described, readily identifiable and prima facie relevant.” He added that the Bureau of Internal Revenue may invoke applicable exceptions under the National Internal Revenue Code when responding to the subpoenas. The court ordered the BIR to submit the requested tax records by July 30.
The impeachment court also approved subpoenas for Duterte’s peso-denominated bank accounts, monthly bank statements and other financial records from 2007 to 2021. Escudero said the records could establish a financial baseline relevant to allegations of unexplained wealth but could not be used to introduce new impeachable offenses committed before Duterte assumed an impeachable office.
The court rejected the defense’s argument that the subpoenas amounted to a “fishing expedition.” Escudero said the requests were supported by specific allegations in Article II of the articles of impeachment and sought records directly related to those claims.
The court likewise approved subpoenas for AMLC records, ruling that confidentiality provisions under the Anti-Money Laundering Act do not bar compliance with lawful court subpoenas.
House prosecutors welcomed the ruling.
Rep. Chel Diokno called it “a very well-reasoned ruling” and said the records are necessary to determine whether Duterte accumulated unexplained wealth. Rep. Leila de Lima said the decision affirmed the impeachment court’s authority despite confidentiality provisions cited by the defense.
Defense lawyer Michael Poa maintained that the requests remain overly broad and argued that they cover financial records from periods when Duterte was not yet an impeachable official. He also said tax and AMLC records remain protected by confidentiality laws.
In a separate development, Escudero said detained Sen. Rodante Marcoleta requested that the impeachment court count his vote despite his detention. Escudero said the Senate must first decide whether to amend the impeachment court’s rules before acting on the request.
