Sara Duterte impeachment trial: Senate to vote on subpoenaing financial records

The Senate impeachment court is expected to vote Monday afternoon on whether to subpoena the financial records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio. Impeachment court spokesperson Regie Tongol previously stated that a simple majority of senators present is required to grant the prosecution's request to subpoena the couple's tax and bank records. With 21 senators currently attending the trial, 11 votes would be needed to approve the request. The so-called "BIR box" contains the income tax returns (ITRs) of Duterte, Carpio, and their businesses. The Vice President's legal team has indicated they would allow the box to be opened, but only in an executive session. Senate impeachment court presiding officer Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero had earlier ordered the box returned to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), stating, "the Court is not yet in custodia legis (legal custody) of this box given that there is no lawful order issued by the court for this box to be turned over to the Senate." On July 15, the prosecution and defense presented their oral arguments on the request to subpoena the couple's tax records. The prosecution argued that laws such as the Bank Secrecy Law and the Data Privacy Act do not bar the impeachment court from accessing the records. The defense, on the other hand, questioned whether the court's subpoena power could be exercised without observing due process. Former BIR Commissioner Kim Henares, who testified during the 2012 impeachment trial of then-Chief Justice Renato Corona, noted that the National Internal Revenue Code provides that income tax returns filed with the Office of the Commissioner form part of the public record and may be opened upon the authority of the President. However, Malacañang said on July 16 that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. had not received any request to authorize the opening of the sealed "BIR box." “Sa ngayon wala pa rin po. Wala pa rin pong ibinibigay na anumang request sa ating Pangulo. Wala pa pong naibibigay sa atin na impormasyon patungkol diyan,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said. (As of now, there’s nothing. No request has been submitted to the President. We haven't received any information regarding that matter.)—MCG, GMA News