The Senate impeachment court has scheduled oral arguments on Wednesday next week on the prosecution panel’s request to subpoena the tax and bank records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.
The requested subpoena duces tecum would direct the Bureau of Internal Revenue commissioner to produce the couple’s tax records, including documents linked to their 22 business interests. The prosecution is also seeking their bank records.
During a virtual press conference, impeachment court spokesperson lawyer Reginald Tongol said the oral arguments would allow the prosecution and defense panels to explain whether the documents are necessary for the trial.
“Bibigyan ng pagkakataon yung both parties na ma-i-argue nila yung kanilang posisyon (Both sides will be given the chance to argue their respective positions),” Tongol said.
Tongol said the court would address the opposing positions of the two sides during the oral arguments.
The prosecution maintains that presenting the tax and bank records during the trial would be exempt from restrictions under the Bank Secrecy Law, while the defense argues otherwise.
“So, dahil magkaiba yung posisyon nila doon sa issues na yan, ’yun yung hinihingan ng memorandum na ipapasa nila sa Lunes para magkaroon ng advance na pag-aaral yung ating mga hukom…So, gusto naman natin na makapag-participate din yung senator-judges sa tamang pagpapasiya kung papayagan bang ilabas yung mag subpoena nay un sa BIR at saka doon sa mga banko
(Because they have different positions on the issues, the court asked both sides to present a memorandum on Monday so the senator-judges can study them…We want our senator-judges to participate in deciding if they will allow the issuance of subpoenas to the BI and to the bank records),” he added.