Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Article (news)

Screenshot, BIR box

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte want the box containing records from the Bureau of Internal Revenue on her and her husband&#x27;s supposed tax records opened before trial to save time.</p><p>This was one of the four points the prosecution made in a manifestation before the Senate Impeachment Court.</p><p>Mamamayang Liberal Party-List Rep. Leila de Lima, one of the prosecutors, said they want the box opened so its contents can be inventoried and marked as evidence.</p><p>The BIR brought the box of supposed records to House Justice Committee hearings on the impeachment complaint against Duterte.</p><p>It has remained sealed because of questions at the time on whether opening it would violate non-disclosure provisions in the National Internal Revenue Code.</p><p>&quot;Sa tingin namin that would aid also in, more efficient and more expeditious conduct of trial kung mabubuksan na rin &#x27;yan ngayon, during this stage ng pre-trial,&quot; she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/23/justice-panel-defers-opening-sara-duterte-carpio-tax-records-pending-legal-review-0034">Justice panel defers opening Sara Duterte, Carpio tax records pending legal review<br/></a></div><p>House members said during the justice panel hearings that impeachment is an exception to the NIRC but agreed to wait until proceedings began at the Senate.</p><p>De Lima declined a question on the probative value of the contents of the box, saying they are barred from commenting on the merits of the case.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DEFENSE: WAIT FOR OUR FORMAL RESPONSE </strong></div><p>Defense counsel Michael Poa said they will file a response to the manifestation and withheld comment until then.</p><p>&quot;I think there are three or four points, &#x27;no, that they manifested and are asking for, and we&#x27;re very reasonable naman sa defense, but siguro I won&#x27;t give any details right now,&quot; he said.</p><p>He also said that the supposed tax documents are a separate issue on Duterte&#x27;s supposed assets.</p><p>&quot;So ang main contention naman po namin doon, anything outside — anything before her term as vice president does not constitute as an impeachable offense and therefore should be excluded from the proceedings. So hindi po pareho yung BIR box and that issue.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/3/25/house-panel-to-subpoena-sara-duterte-saln-nbi-findings-on-threat-vs-marcos-1241">House panel to subpoena Sara Duterte SALN, NBI findings on threat vs Marcos</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT ELSE DID PROSECUTORS RAISE?</strong></div><p>Aside from the request to open the box, the prosecution is also asking for the examination of witnesses to be done in either English or Filipino to help the public understand proceedings better.</p><p>The prosecution has also asked the Senate Impeachment Court to allow &quot;at least one public prosecutor [and] one private prosecutor&quot; to present witnesses so they can divide the presentation and take turns if necessary.</p><p>She said the third point raised concerns a defense request for a reciprocal three-day notice rule for witness presentation.</p><p>&quot;Pumapayag kami na ganun na nga. At least three days before the presentation of a witness ay ma-notify yung the other party... So there can be no questions about &#x27;Well, it&#x27;s a surprise witness. We&#x27;re being ambushed here by a surprise witness&#x27;.&quot; <strong>— from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1PiAv131lcc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte want the box containing records from the Bureau of Internal Revenue on her and her husband's supposed tax records opened before trial to save time.</p>

Prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte want the box containing records from the Bureau of Internal Revenue on her and her husband's supposed tax records opened before trial to save time.

Prosecutors ask impeachment court to unseal box of Duterte's tax records

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Prosecutors ask impeachment court to unseal box of Duterte's tax records

ABS-CBN News

Published June 24, 2026 05:13 PM PHT

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Sara Duterte

Impeachment

Senate

Leila De Lima

Michael Poa

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