Senate court grants summons for Sara Duterte, Mans Carpio bank, tax records

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MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court granted the House prosecution's request to subpoena bank and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases "Mans" Carpio, rejecting the defense's argument that the request amounted to a fishing expedition.

Presiding officer Francis Escudero said Monday, July 20, that the requested bank and Bureau of Internal Revenue documents were "reasonably described, readily identifiable, and prima facie relevant" to Article II of the Articles of Impeachment.

The banks were ordered to submit the documents to the impeachment court on July 30.

The ruling came after hours of interpellation on whether the court could compel the production of Duterte and Carpio's financial records as part of the trial on the vice president's alleged unexplained wealth.

Limits to subpoena

Escudero said the subpoenas granted by the court would apply only to peso-denominated accounts relevant to Article II.

"Foreign currency deposits are excluded, absent the written consent of the respective depositors," Escudero said.

The impeachment court denied subpoenas for two of the 21 listed entities, JTC Group of Companies and Pikimong Pikimong Philippines Corp., after finding that their records did not identify Duterte or Carpio as shareholders.

The "corporate veil may not be pierced on mere suspicion or speculation," the court said.

The ruling gives prosecutors access to a set of financial records they have argued is necessary to pursue the unexplained wealth allegation, while limiting the reach of the subpoenas to accounts and entities the court found sufficiently connected to the article. — with Cristina Chi