Major lenders Philippine National Bank (PNB) and UnionBank of the Philippines have been handed a strict, final deadline of Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, to turn over all subpoenaed financial records connected to Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s ongoing impeachment trial.
Presiding Officer Sen. FrancisE scudero announced Monday that the Senate Impeachment Court approved a partial extension for the institutions, but warned that no further delays would be tolerated.
“PNB and Union Bank are directed to submit the remaining documents on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, with the reminder that this period is non-extendible,” Escudero declared during the session.
The subpoenaed documents form a cornerstone of the prosecution’s strategy as House managers unpack Article II, which centers on allegations of unexplained wealth along with incomplete or untruthful Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs).
House prosecutors have secured a wide range of financial data, including bank statements, tax filings and corporate ledgers, pertaining to Vice President Duterte, her husband attorney Manases “Mans” Carpio, and affiliated commercial entities. The strategy aims to compare these financial records against Duterte’s declared assets and lawful income to identify discrepancies.
Pressure Mounts on Defense over 104 Requests for Admission
Alongside the directive to the banks, Escudero reminded Duterte’s defense team that their deadline to answer 104 formal requests for admission is fast approaching on September 23.
Through these filings, House prosecutors are pushing the defense to formally confirm critical facts, such as the authenticity of the subpoenaed banking documents and whether the accounts identified in the records are owned by Duterte individually or jointly with other parties.
By securing these admissions ahead of time, the trial court aims to streamline proceedings and eliminate redundant witness testimonies. Prosecutors noted that if the defense concedes the authenticity of the records and account ownership, the trial could bypass calling up to 15 bank officers who would otherwise take the stand purely to verify the documents.
Vice President Duterte continues to deny all charges under the impeachment complaint.