The Senate impeachment court on Monday granted the House prosecution’s request to subpoena the bank, Anti-Money Laundering Council and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte, as well as financial records involving her husband, Manases Carpio.
Presiding officer Francis Escudero said the requested records are “reasonably described, readily identifiable, prima facie relevant and material” to the allegations under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment.
The court ruled that the records may be used only to establish Duterte’s financial baseline and capacity in relation to the allegations in the impeachment complaint, and not to introduce new or independent impeachable offenses.
The impeachment court also overruled the defense’s objection to the requested period covering 2007 to 2021, allowing the production of records predating Duterte’s election as vice president.
It likewise ruled that bank records held individually or jointly by Carpio may be subpoenaed, citing the legal presumption that assets acquired during the marriage form part of the spouses’ absolute community of property unless proven otherwise.
The court granted subpoenas covering 19 corporate entities and one partnership linked to Duterte and Carpio but denied requests involving JTC Group of Companies and Pikimong Pikimong Philippines Corporation, saying the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie connection between those entities and the couple.
The tribunal also rejected the defense’s argument that AMLC records are protected by confidentiality under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, ruling that such provisions do not override the Senate impeachment court’s constitutional subpoena powers.
