Subpoena for VP Duterte financial records backed by Constitution, says solon

Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon expressed confidence that the Senate impeachment court will be convinced to subpoena the financial records of Vice President Sara Duterte, citing the Constitution as the basis for the court's power to compel the submission of documents. Speaking at a weekly news forum, Ridon asserted that the impeachment court derives its authority from the Constitution to summon individuals and documents to uncover the truth. The court deferred its decision on the subpoena request last week, with senator-judges given until Monday to study the arguments presented by both the prosecution and defense panels. The defense, represented by lawyer Michael Poa, had urged the court to reject the request, labeling it a "fishing expedition" that would violate due process, privacy rights, and statutory confidentiality. However, Ridon countered this by highlighting previous bank flags on P6.7 billion worth of transactions linked to the Vice President and her husband, stating, "there was no fishing expedition when it was a whale that was found." Ridon emphasized the importance of examining financial records even before Duterte assumed the vice presidency to establish a baseline for tracking wealth accumulation and ensuring accountability. He further argued that the bank secrecy law provides clear exceptions for impeachment trials, making the subpoena request uncontroversial. He pointed out that Duterte declared no cash on hand or in bank in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) from 2019 to 2024, suggesting that any funds found in her bank accounts during this period would constitute a clear lie in her SALN and a potential impeachable offense for betrayal of public trust. Additionally, Ridon asserted that the court should be able to subpoena documents from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), as these are not covered by absolute confidentiality. He dismissed the defense's argument that BIR records can only be opened "in aid of legislation," arguing that impeachment proceedings represent a distinct function of the legislature, and that the constitutional power of the impeachment court to subpoena documents for truth-finding is paramount.