Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Akbayan Party-List Rep. Chel Diokno, a House prosecutor, argues at the Senate on July 20, 2026 for issuing subpoenas for Vice President Sara Duterte's financial records. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

Darylle Sarmiento

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784554125608749286189_1314424447114543_5840919543848671330_n.png.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Akbayan Party-List Rep. Chel Diokno, a House prosecutor, argues at the Senate on July 20, 2026 for issuing subpoenas for Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s financial records. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA (UPDATED) — Calling it a “major victory,” the prosecution team hailed on Monday the impeachment court’s approval of its request for subpoenas for the bank records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio, and for Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records connected to Duterte.Sen. Francis Escudero, presiding officer, made the ruling after Sens. Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano subjected Atty. Michael Poa of the defense and Akbayan Party-List Rep. Chel Diokno of the prosecution to questions on whether the court should grant the request.Atty. Benjamin Tolosa, counsel for the prosecutions, called the ruling a triumph in the search for truth and accountability.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/full-text-impeachment-court-s-bir-amlc-subpoenas-for-duterte-financial-records-1854">FULL TEXT: Impeachment court subpoenas BIR, AMLC for Duterte financial records</a></div>“Napaka-importante na ito mga dokumento na ‘to para mapakita natin ang complete na picture ng kabuuang yaman ng vice president,” Tolosa said in a press conference after the hearing adjourned. (These documents are so important because we will be able to show a full picture of the vice president&#x27;s wealth.)Mamamayang Liberal Party-List Rep. Leila de Lima said it was a “very good day” for the prosecution as well as a &quot;victory for truth and accountability.&quot;She also called it a victory for the court. “We are seeing here that the impeachment court is upholding its constitutional authority,&quot; she also said, referring to the exception to bank confidentiality laws that impeachment proceedings have.De Lima said she expects the defense team to raise issues of admissibility on the records, but said the approval of the request for subpoenas is still a very important development.Escudero earlier noted that the subpoena to the Bureau of Internal Revenue for Duterte&#x27;s tax records would only be the first step to accessing them since the tax bureau also has its own procedures for that.The public is also among those “winning” due to this move, according to House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V of La Union.“Malaking panalo ‘to na makita rin ang tao lahat ng mga bank records at na-allow ito ng impeachment court.”(This is a big win since the people will see the bank accounts and that the impeachment court allowed it.)While the court denied the request to subpoena foreign currency deposits, Tolosa said &quot;what we can say is based [on the] AMLC reports, majority of those are peso-denominated accounts.&quot;“I don&#x27;t think the prosecution will be further taking issue on the matter,” De Lima said, adding the subpoena for records of  peso-denominated accounts is enough.Poa, in a separate briefing, said the impeachment court&#x27;s decision was not what the defense had hoped for but also said Duterte&#x27;s lawyers had anticipated the possibility that the prosecution&#x27;s request would be granted.“We submit to the decision of the impeachment court. Of course, without prejudice to legal remedies available under the law,” Poa told reporters.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/impeachment-court-subpoena-for-duterte-s-documents-not-a-setback-defense-2018">Impeachment court subpoena for Duterte&#x27;s documents not a setback — defense</a></div><div> </div><div>&#x27;NOT A FISHING EXPEDITION&#x27;</div>Bukidnon 2nd District Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores, another House prosecutor, meanwhile  rejected claims that the move to obtain Duterte&#x27;s financial records is &quot;fishing expedition&quot; to find evidence against her.“Klaro naman po sa Committee on Justice na hearing na sinabi ng AMLC na itong amounts ang mga pumasok sa accounts ng ating vice president,” he said, referring to large transactions into and out of Duterte&#x27;s accounts. (It was clear during the Committee on Justice hearings that the AMLC said these were the amounts that went into the vice president&#x27;s accounts.) Flores said Duterte&#x27;s Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) do not appear to match records cited by the AMLC.&quot;Yun pa lang na basis may duda ka na na may unexplained wealth,&quot; he said.(On that basis alone, there is already suspicion of unexplained wealth.) Flores also noted that the Cayetanos seem to have changed their position on financial transparency since the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012.He said that the court then looked into bank accounts opened and properties acquired before Corona was chief justice.“So, dapat what’s good for Corona should also be good for the vice president.” The Senate eventually convicted Corona on failing to accurately disclose his wealth. Flores said he does not want to speculate on the Cayetanos&#x27; motives, adding: “But I really hope that it’s for accountability.”

Calling it a “major victory,” the prosecution team hailed on Monday the impeachment court’s approval of its request for subpoenas for the bank records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio, and for Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records connected to Duterte.

Calling it a “major victory,” the prosecution team hailed on Monday the impeachment court’s approval of its request for subpoenas for the bank records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio, and for Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records connected to Duterte.

Prosecutors call subpoena for Duterte’s records a victory for truth, accountability

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Prosecutors call subpoena for Duterte’s records a victory for truth, accountability

Agatha Gregorio,

Darylle Sarmiento,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 20, 2026 09:38 PM PHT

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Updated July 20, 2026 10:18 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Impeachment

Leila De Lima

Benjamin Tolosa

Paolo Ortega V

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