Jonathan Frederic De Santos

The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, confers with members of the defense and the prosecution panel on the merits of issuing a subpoena to the Bureau of Internal Revenue to produce the tax records of Vice President Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, at the Philippine Senate on July 20, 2026. The impeachment trial entered its 7th day with the prosecution team requesting the issuance of a subpoena for VP Duterte’s tax records, which according to prosecutors are relevant to the 2nd Article of Impeachment focusing on the Vice President’s unexplained wealth. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News 

Article (news)

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17846206651441784620663325.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, confers with members of the defense and the prosecution panel on the merits of issuing a subpoena to the Bureau of Internal Revenue to produce the tax records of Vice President Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, at the Philippine Senate on July 20, 2026. The impeachment trial entered its 7th day with the prosecution team requesting the issuance of a subpoena for VP Duterte’s tax records, which according to prosecutors are relevant to the 2nd Article of Impeachment focusing on the Vice President’s unexplained wealth. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News "/>The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, confers with members of the defense and the prosecution panel on the merits of issuing a subpoena to the Bureau of Internal Revenue to produce the tax records of Vice President Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, at the Philippine Senate on July 20, 2026. The impeachment trial entered its 7th day with the prosecution team requesting the issuance of a subpoena for VP Duterte’s tax records, which according to prosecutors are relevant to the 2nd Article of Impeachment focusing on the Vice President’s unexplained wealth. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </div>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s legal team said they were surprised when impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol said Monday that parts of the ruling approving the issuance of subpoenas for the vice president&#x27;s tax and bank records were ready even before the trial began on July 6. Atty. Michael Poa, spokesperson for the defense, said in a press briefing Tuesday that they respect the ruling that Sen. Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero, presiding officer, read on Tuesday.“I don’t really want to cast aspersions dito sa nangyari kahapon. Marami kasing puwedeng dahilan, maari kasi na napag-aralan na nila yun at kailangan lang na magkaroon ng oral arguments to see if mapapabago natin yung resolusyon,&quot; he said.(There are many possible reasons. They could have already studied the issue and they only needed oral arguments to see if those change it.)<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>He said senator-judges could also have discussed the issue further after the oral arguments last week.Tongol in the Monday press briefing said the requests for subpoenas were &quot;already stated in pre-trial&quot; and that Escudero was ready to make a ruling on them on July 6.The decision was deferred because the prosecution said it had re-filed its request and because some senator-judges had asked that oral arguments be held.He added he believes Escudero also sought his colleagues&#x27; views during their caucus last week.Poa said he does not want it to seem that the defense is raising issues because the ruling was not favorable to them.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/20/impeachment-court-subpoenas-duterte-bank-records-1730">Senate impeachment court grants subpoena for Duterte financial records</a></div>“We&#x27;ll just take the decision as it is. Of course, I&#x27;d be lying if I will be saying na hindi ako nagulat na may ganun pa lang nangyari (that I was not surprised that something like that happened).”He added the defense is not afraid of the documents the court has subpoenaed.“Kung lumabas man yung lahat ng &#x27;yan, handa din naman kaming harapin bawat isa sa mga dokumento na ‘yan.” (If all of those come out, we are ready to address each of those documents.)He added that he does not believe the oral arguments were futile since parties were able to air their positions.The defense believes that even with the decision of the impeachment court, the oral arguments were not a waste of time.“So at least narinig din ng ating mga kababayan kung ano yung points ng both sides, the prosecution and the defense at least napakita natin sa kanila kung ano rin yung mga naging basehan natin kaya natin tinutulan itong mga request na ‘to.”(At least the people heard the points of both sides. At least we were able to show our basis for opposing the requests.)Poa said there are remedies available to Duterte but that they have not yet discussed their next legal move. Duterte already has a petition at the Supreme Court seeking to stop proceedings.

Vice President Sara Duterte's legal team said they were surprised when impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol said Monday that parts of the ruling approving the issuance of subpoenas for the vice president's tax and bank records were ready even before the trial began on July 6.

Vice President Sara Duterte's legal team said they were surprised when impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol said Monday that parts of the ruling approving the issuance of subpoenas for the vice president's tax and bank records were ready even before the trial began on July 6.

Duterte lawyers 'surprised' that parts of ruling on subpoenas ready before trial started

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Duterte lawyers 'surprised' that parts of ruling on subpoenas ready before trial started

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 21, 2026 04:03 PM PHT

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Reginald Tongol

Michael Poa

Sara Duterte

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