The Republic of the Philippines President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has authorised the release of Vice President Sara Duterte’s tax records to the Senate for use in her impeachment trial, where she faces allegations of accumulating unexplained wealth while in office.
“They can be opened, availed of by the parties as part of their evidence,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro told Reuters in a message on Thursday.
Duterte’s office did not immediately respond to Reuters’ request for comment. She has consistently denied any wrongdoing and described the impeachment case as politically motivated.
The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, is scheduled to resume the trial on August 3.
Under Philippine law, the Bureau of Internal Revenue can only release confidential tax records with presidential approval.
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Although the Senate had subpoenaed Duterte’s tax records, it withheld their release pending compliance with taxpayer confidentiality laws.
The Senate has also directed banks and the Anti-Money Laundering Council to submit financial records linked to Duterte and her husband.
Duterte is on trial over allegations including misuse of public funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, corruption, and making threats against President Marcos, the first lady, and a former House speaker.
A conviction would require the support of at least 16 of the Senate’s 24 members and could jeopardise Duterte’s expected bid for the presidency in 2028.
Marcos and Duterte, heirs to two of the Philippines’ most influential political families, secured a landslide victory in the 2022 election on a joint ticket. However, their political alliance later broke down amid a bitter fallout.
Reuters
