Camille Naredo

Members of the House Committee on Justice voted 38-6 to defer opening the sealed box from the Bureau of Internal Revenue containing the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio, following a clashing of opinions on the legal implications of opening the box and putting its contents under public scrutiny.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News


Article (news)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Jervis Manahan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177770440300220260429-vp-sara-impeachment-tax-record-vote-JC34.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Members of the House Committee on Justice voted 38-6 to defer opening the sealed box from the Bureau of Internal Revenue containing the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio, following a clashing of opinions on the legal implications of opening the box and putting its contents under public scrutiny.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN NewsMembers of the House Committee on Justice voted 38-6 to defer opening the sealed box from the Bureau of Internal Revenue containing the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio, following a clashing of opinions on the legal implications of opening the box and putting its contents under public scrutiny.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members of the House Committee on Justice voted 38-6 to defer opening the sealed box from the Bureau of Internal Revenue containing the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio, following a clashing of opinions on the legal implications of opening the box and putting its contents under public scrutiny.  <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- Several names have been floated to be part of the team that will prosecute Vice President Sara Duterte once the impeachment reaches the trial stage at the Senate.</p><p>According to House Justice Committee member Terry Ridon, it is highly likely that the prosecution team will be composed of old and new names.</p><p>This includes ML Partylist Representative Leila De Lima, Akbayan Representative Chel Diokno, and Ridon himself.</p><p>Also included in the pool of possible names included San Juan Representative Ysabel Zamora, Bukidnon Second District Representative Jonathan Keith Flores, Manila Third District Representative Joel Chua, and Cagayan de Oro First District Representative Lordan Suan.</p><p>Under the constitution, eleven representatives from the Lower House will compose the prosecution team once the impeachment trial starts at the Senate.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/30/senate-may-hold-vp-sara-impeachment-trial-during-break-1243">READ: Senate may hold VP Sara impeachment trial during break</a></div><p>&quot;Nagbanggit si Congressman Gerville Luistro ng mga pangalan, itong nagdaan, sabi niya, may mga luma at may mga bago. Pero ang magpipinal diyan, hindi naman ang Committee on Justice kundi yung plenaryo po ng Kongreso mismo,&quot; Ridon said.</p><p>The House Committee on Justice last week found probable cause to send the impeachment complaints against the vice president to the House plenary for a vote.</p><p>The justice panel agreed unanimously that the evidence presented throughout the four-day hearing was strong enough for both complaints to proceed to the plenary. They later on voted to consolidate the two complaints.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/29/house-finds-probable-cause-duterte-impeachment-now-up-to-plenary-1618">READ: Sara Duterte impeachment now up to House plenary after panel finds probable cause</a></div><p>Election of the prosecution team will happen once the Vice President is impeached by the House of Representatives.</p><p>This is expected to happen within the next few weeks, as the Committee Report is expected to be approved on Monday, and then elevated to the plenary.</p><p>The Bicol Saro Partylist Representative said the Justice Committee may transmit the articles of impeachment within the next two weeks.</p><p>&quot;The House Committee on Justice has very high confidence na yung 106 votes na kailangan to impeach the Vice President will be met,&quot; Ridon said.</p><p>Ridon believes that there will be four Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President- including unexplained wealth, bribery, confidential funds misuse, and threats against the President.</p><p>&quot;Hindi lang ho pating yung ating nakita sa pagdinig, balyena ang nakita doon sa P6.7 billion na pinag-uusapan natin na pumasok at lumabas sa transactions ng mag-asawang Duterte-Carpio,&quot; he said.</p><p>The defense team of the Vice President said they have no statement on the matter as of the moment.</p><p>The Constitution requires at least one-third of the votes of House members for the articles of impeachment to be transmitted to the Senate. A guilty verdict in the Senate trial would ban Duterte from elected office for life.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SENATE TRIAL IN JUNE</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said trial proper may start by June.</p><p>Despite the Senate convening as Impeachment Court immediately, the Senate may need a few weeks to process the sending of summons and the marking of evidence.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/1/-more-than-half-of-house-might-support-vp-duterte-s-impeachment-garin-2034">READ: &#x27;More than half&#x27; of House might support VP Duterte&#x27;s impeachment: Garin</a></div><p>&quot;Kailangan ma-transmit muna sa amin ang Articles of Impeachment. Kung susundin natin ang ganoong proseso, hindi ganoon kadali yan. We&#x27;re talking of at least three weeks siguro bago talaga makapagsimula ang trial, at the very least,&quot; Lacson told DZMM Teleradyo.</p><p>&quot;Ang natandaan ko noong panahon ng trial ni former Chief Justice Corona, hindi nagkaroon ng preliminary conference. So bandang gitna nang nagkagulo-gulo, kung anu-ano napasok na testigo doon lang nagsagawa ng preliminary conference or pre-trial,&quot; Lacson said.</p><p>&quot;So mas mainam sa simula pa lang maliwanag na anong tatalakayin sa trial, ang tinanggap na ng magkabilang panig. Di na yan paguusapan at pagdedebatehan ng prosecution and defense,&quot; he added.</p>

<p>Several names have been floated to be part of the team that will prosecute Vice President Sara Duterte once the impeachment reaches the trial stage at the Senate.</p>

Several names have been floated to be part of the team that will prosecute Vice President Sara Duterte once the impeachment reaches the trial stage at the Senate.

De Lima, Diokno, Ridon among names floated to compose prosecution team in VP Duterte impeachment trial

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

De Lima, Diokno, Ridon among names floated to compose prosecution team in VP Duterte impeachment trial

Jervis Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 02, 2026 02:50 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

impeachment

House of Representatives

Philippine Senate

Terry Ridon

Leila De Lima

Chel Diokno

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.