Sen. Francis Escudero, presiding officer of the impeachment court, on Monday ordered the return of a sealed box containing the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Escudero said the impeachment court could not formally take custody of the box because no lawful order had been issued directing the BIR to turn over the documents to the Senate.
He also noted that the records had not yet been offered as evidence or marked in the impeachment proceedings.
“More so, that it is not yet offered in evidence, not even as of yet marked. The Chair, therefore, orders that the BIR box, closed, sealed, and as it is received, be sent back to the BIR or Bureau of Internal Revenue without prejudice to any action that the Court may take if a motion will be filed by either party …and we shall await action, if any, by the BIR Commissioner should that time come,” Escudero said.
The order means the sealed box will remain outside the impeachment court’s custody unless either party files the proper motion and the court issues a corresponding directive.