Senate impeachment court Presiding Officer, Senator-judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero —Inquirer photo/Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court on Monday cleared a major hurdle for House prosecutors in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, authorizing subpoenas for her bank, tax and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records that could provide key evidence for allegations she amassed unexplained wealth.
In a ruling on the prosecution’s Article II case, the impeachment court ordered the production of the financial records of Duterte; her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio; 19 companies allegedly linked to the couple; and Carpio’s law partnership, saying the documents are prima facie relevant in determining whether the Vice President’s assets and financial transactions were disproportionate to her lawful income.
The court excluded foreign-currency deposits from the subpoenas because of statutory confidentiality protections and denied requests covering JTC Group of Companies Philippines Inc. and Pikimong Pikimong Philippines Corp., saying prosecutors failed to sufficiently establish their links to Duterte or Carpio.
Article continues after this advertisement
