Senate Impeachment Court Grants Subpoenas for Financial Records of VP Sara Duterte and Husband
MANILA — The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, granted on 20 July 2026 two crucial motions seeking subpoenas for the peso-denominated bank, tax, and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records of Vice-President Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases "Mans" Carpio.
Presiding Officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero announced the twin rulings on the seventh day of the trial, stating that the requested documents met the legal standard of being "reasonably described, readily identifiable, and prima facie relevant and material" to Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which alleges unexplained wealth.
The court issued subpoenas covering peso-denominated bank accounts, AMLC disclosures, and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax records spanning 2007 to 2021 for Duterte, Carpio, the Carpio Lawyers partnership, and 19 associated corporate entities. Escudero clarified that the tax filings are permitted solely to establish a financial baseline for evaluating the Vice-President's assets during her current term, rather than establishing separate civil tax liabilities or introducing new impeachable offences.
The tribunal simultaneously established distinct safeguards and boundaries:
Foreign currency deposits: Excluded from disclosure under statutory protections, unless written consent is provided.
Corporate exclusions: Requests regarding JTC Group of Companies Philippines Inc. and Pikimong Pikimong Philippines Corporation were denied, as the prosecution failed to demonstrate direct ownership or a compelling legal basis to disregard their distinct corporate personalities.
Prosecution hails 'victory of truth'
The House prosecution panel welcomed the decision, characterizing the rulings as a pivotal advancement in the pursuit of accountability.
House prosecutor and Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Representative Leila de Lima described the outcome as a "very good day for the prosecution," calling the tribunal's order a "victory of truth and accountability" (tagumpay ng katotohanan at pananagutan).
De Lima emphasized that the decision was equally a victory for the impeachment court itself, as it reaffirmed its constitutional authority to compel the production of necessary evidence regardless of statutory confidentiality claims. She noted that with the tribunal establishing its jurisdiction over these records, the search for truth regarding the allegations of undeclared wealth can proceed without impediment.
House prosecution legal spokesperson Benjamin "Jay" Tolosa Jr. echoed De Lima's sentiments, stating that the panel was pleased the court recognized the specificity and materiality of the financial disclosures sought.
