Sara Duterte's Bank, Tax Records Furnished to Prosecutors in Impeachment Trial

The prosecution panel in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has been furnished with copies of her bank and tax records, as well as those of her husband, Atty. Mans Carpio, and their businesses. This was announced by Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon, the prosecutor assigned to handle the Article of Impeachment on alleged unexplained wealth, who stated that his team is preparing for the presentation of evidence for the said article. "This afternoon, the prosecution panel was given a copy of all the bank information that was requested from our vice president, his wife, and their companies," Ridon said in a news conference. "The Senate impeachment court also gave the prosecution panel copies of all the tax documents for the vice president, his wife, and their companies." He added, "So in the coming days, we will study and scrutinize all these documents. And this is what constitutes the last important pillar of evidence that will be used for the unexplained wealth article." The prosecution panel's unexplained wealth team is preparing to present evidence in mid- to late September. "So we will study all the bank accounts and tax documents of Vice President Sara Duterte, her husband, and her companies to see if this evidence will constitute proof of the allegations in the unexplained wealth article, which would constitute a betrayal of public trust," Ridon said. The Senate impeachment court formally received Duterte and Carpio's financial and tax records in relation to her ongoing impeachment trial on July 30. Around the same time, documentary evidence from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) was also received. The court had started issuing subpoenas for Duterte’s tax and bank records in relation to the impeachment trial the week before. Among those issued with subpoenas were the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the AMLC, and several banks. Impeachment trial clerk of court Renato Bantug had previously stated, "The Senate Impeachment Court maintains the highest level of physical and procedural security over these records. Access is strictly controlled, and the chain of custody is heavily documented." He added, "The Clerk of Court will release the documents to the parties only after the meticulous inventory process is complete, and in the case of the AMLC, after the Presiding Officer completes his ‘in camera’ review." Bantug emphasized, "The Impeachment Court will not rush the chain of custody. Security and accuracy take precedence over speed."