Marcos Approves Opening of VP Duterte's Tax Records; Defense Team Silent

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has approved the recommendation of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to open the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio. The approval comes after the Senate impeachment court on Monday granted the prosecution's request for a subpoena on the tax and bank documents of the Vice President and her husband. The defense team for the Vice President remained tight-lipped, with spokesperson Michael Poa stating, "No comment." However, Poa indicated that the Duterte camp is exploring legal remedies, including questioning the legality of the process before the Supreme Court. During oral arguments before the impeachment court, Poa had argued that the prosecution's insistence on opening the sealed BIR box containing the tax records of Duterte and her husband amounted to a "fishing expedition." Conversely, House prosecutor Rep. Chel Diokno contended that it is within the impeachment court's power to look into Duterte's financial records. Diokno cited the Senate's issuance of a subpoena on the bank records of former chief justice Renato Corona in 2011, which were subsequently admitted as evidence during his impeachment trial. This development is expected to further fuel discussions on transparency and accountability in Philippine politics, as public interest in the financial standing of high-ranking officials often intersects with concerns about their fitness for office and potential impropriety.