Camille Naredo

The Senate impeachment court opened oral arguments on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, on requests to subpoena the financial records of Vice President Sara Duterte. Wendell Alinea, Senate Social Media Unit

The Senate impeachment court opened oral arguments on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, on requests to subpoena the financial records of Vice President Sara Duterte.
On Day 6 of the impeachment trial, the senator-judges heard from prosecution and defense counsels regarding motions to subpoena the Vice President’s bank documents, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) records, and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) reports.
The documents were requested by the prosecution panel ahead of the court’s discussion of Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which concerns Duterte’s wealth, Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), and business interests.
Wendell Alinea, Senate Social Media Unit

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178436079088120260715-senate-impeachment-day6-SSMU-WA-16.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The Senate impeachment court opened oral arguments on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, on requests to subpoena the financial records of Vice President Sara Duterte. Wendell Alinea, Senate Social Media Unit"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Senate impeachment court opened oral arguments on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, on requests to subpoena the financial records of Vice President Sara Duterte. <em>Wendell Alinea, Senate Social Media Unit</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – Senator Erwin Tulfo on Saturday said the Senate impeachment court should expedite the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, as he believes that prolonged proceedings only add to the uncertainty faced by the respondent and her family.</p><p>Tulfo noted that only two witnesses had testified after two weeks of hearings, describing the pace of the proceedings as slow.</p><p>&quot;Kailangan po tapusin kaagad ito. Kung wala talagang sala, bakit kailangan pang patagalin? Kung wala namang kongkreto at malakas na ebidensya, bakit kailangan pang patagalin? Eh &#x27;di i-dismiss. Kung meron naman, eh &#x27;di pag-usapan natin,&quot; Tulfo said in a DZMM Teleradyo interview.</p><p>The senator said the impeachment court should remain focused on the charges against Duterte, warning against discussions that he said were unrelated to the articles of impeachment.</p><p>&quot;Let us not forget it&#x27;s an impeachment court. This court is established one thing and one thing only for the impeachment trial of the Vice President... Dito pwede siyang magsalita, ito ang oras niya at hindi oras ng iba,&quot; he said.</p><p>His remarks came after manifestations during the trial touched on matters outside the impeachment complaint, including the country&#x27;s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games in 2019.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/17/nbi-to-subpoena-officials-over-2019-sea-games-probe-1544">NBI to subpoena officials over 2019 SEA Games probe</a></div><p>Tulfo said while senators have the right to raise issues, such discussions could distract from the proceedings.</p><p>&quot;Justice delayed, justice denied,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BIR RECORDS STILL UNDER DISCUSSION</strong></div><p>Tulfo also said senator-judges are expected to resume deliberations on Monday over the prosecution panel&#x27;s request to subpoena the Vice President&#x27;s records from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), as well as documents from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and bank records.</p><p>He said there were differing views among senator-judges on whether to issue the subpoena.</p><p>According to Tulfo, even if the impeachment court approves the subpoena, the BIR records cannot be opened without legal authority.</p><p>&quot;Malinaw po na ang tanging makapagbubukas diyan ay kapag may inutos na ang Pangulo o mismong si Vice President Sara,&quot; he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/16/bir-needs-marcos-approval-before-release-of-duterte-s-records-ex-tax-chief-1457">BIR needs Marcos approval before release of Duterte&#x27;s records — ex-tax chief</a></div><p>He added that the BIR records had earlier been returned because they were not used as evidence by the prosecution.</p><p>Previous hearings have centered on whether the impeachment court may compel the production of tax records, with both prosecution and defense presenting opposing interpretations of existing tax secrecy laws and the Constitution.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SENATORS TO VOTE ON SUBPOENA REQUEST</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vVznDAXKzj8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div><p>Tulfo said senator-judges would first hear the arguments of both sides before voting on the prosecution&#x27;s request.</p><p>&quot;Pinapakinggan po natin ang minority at majority. Pareho naman pong may mga punto,&quot; he said.</p><p>He said he intends to listen to the explanations of fellow senator-judges before casting his vote.</p><p>Tulfo also defended the frequent objections raised by lawyers during the proceedings, saying they are part of the legal process even if they may confuse the public.</p><p>&quot;Naguguluhan, nasisira ‘yung flow kapag puro objection. Pero karapatan po nila &#x27;yon... trabaho nila &#x27;yon,&quot; he said.</p><p>He said both the prosecution and the defense have so far presented their arguments well.</p><p>The Senate impeachment court resumed trial this month after the House of Representatives transmitted the articles of impeachment against Duterte earlier this year. </p><p>The proceedings have so far focused on procedural matters, documentary evidence, and witness testimony, including disputes over subpoenas for financial and tax records. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/7/multiple-defense-objections-get-blanked-on-lengthy-day-2-of-duterte-s-impeachment-trial-2018">Multiple defense objections get blanked on lengthy Day 2 of Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial</a></div>

<p>Senator Erwin Tulfo on Saturday said the Senate impeachment court should expedite the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying prolonged proceedings only add to the uncertainty faced by the respondent and her family.</p>

Senator Erwin Tulfo on Saturday said the Senate impeachment court should expedite the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying prolonged proceedings only add to the uncertainty faced by the respondent and her family.

'Oras niya, hindi oras ng iba': Tulfo wants impeachment trial to focus on charges vs. VP Duterte

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'Oras niya, hindi oras ng iba': Tulfo wants impeachment trial to focus on charges vs. VP Duterte

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 18, 2026 03:50 PM PHT

Read More:

Vice President Sara Duterte

Impeachment trial

Senate

BIR

Erwin Tulfo

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