THE Senate impeachment court on Monday granted the House prosecution panel’s motion to issue subpoenas for the financial and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, marking a major procedural victory for the prosecution in its effort to establish the allegations under Article II of the Articles of Impeachment involving unexplained wealth.
Following extensive deliberations, the senator-judges led by Sen. Chiz Escudero denied the Defense panel’s strong opposition and authorized the issuance of subpoenas covering the Vice President’s bank records, documents from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Bureau of Internal Revenue records, and other financial documents deemed material to the impeachment proceedings.
House prosecution panel adviser and spokesperson Robert Ace Barbers welcomed the ruling, describing it as a decisive affirmation that no public official may invoke confidentiality to shield evidence that is directly relevant to determining accountability in an impeachment trial.
“Today’s vote is a victory for truth, transparency, and accountability. The impeachment court has made it clear that the search for truth cannot be frustrated by claims of confidentiality when the Constitution itself demands a full and fair examination of the evidence,” Barbers said.
According to Barbers, the subpoenaed records will enable the prosecution to examine documentary evidence that may establish whether there is a disparity between the Vice President’s declared income and assets and the financial transactions reflected in banking, AMLC, and tax records.
“These financial records are indispensable in determining whether the allegations of unexplained wealth are supported by documentary evidence. They will provide the factual basis upon which the impeachment court can objectively assess the charges under Article II,” he said.
Barbers added that the court’s ruling effectively resolves the legal issues raised by the defense regarding the applicability of the Bank Secrecy Law and other confidentiality statutes in relation to the subpoena requests, allowing the trial to proceed toward the presentation of material financial evidence before the impeachment court.
He likewise emphasized that the prosecution remains committed to presenting only evidence that is relevant, competent, and admissible, noting that earlier decisions to streamline the witness list demonstrate the panel’s determination to conduct an efficient trial focused on the strongest documentary and testimonial evidence.
“The Filipino people deserve nothing less than the whole truth. This impeachment trial is not about personalities or politics—it is about public accountability. Every peso entrusted by the people must be accounted for, and every public official, regardless of position, must answer for allegations of corruption and unexplained wealth before the Constitution and the Filipino nation,” Barbers said.
The House prosecution panel earlier withdrew several witnesses whose testimonies had become cumulative after material facts were established through previous evidence, underscoring its commitment to a focused and expeditious presentation of its case. With the issuance of the subpoenas, the prosecution is expected to proceed with the presentation and authentication of the requested financial documents in the succeeding days of the impeachment trial.
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