Senate Impeachment Court Hears Arguments on Request for Vice President Duterte’s Bank and Tax Records

The Senate impeachment court heard oral arguments on July 15, 2026, on the House prosecution’s request to subpoena Vice President Sara Duterte’s bank, tax, and Anti-Money Laundering Council records. Defense counsel Michael Poa argued that the subpoenas would violate Duterte’s constitutional rights and confidentiality provisions in the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the National Internal Revenue Code.

“The prosecution has repeatedly invoked accountability….

We agree with them, no one is above the law. But in the same manner, no one must fall below or be outside the protection of the law,” Poa said. He added that impeachment is not a tool to transform unlawful access into lawful access and warned that an oppressive subpoena becomes a fishing expedition.

Prosecution counsel Akbayan Representative Chel Diokno countered that subpoenas at the document-request stage do not violate due process because the defense can object later. Diokno cited Republic of the Philippines v. Rabusa, in which the Supreme Court held that a lower court erred by not examining bank accounts.

He stated that bank secrecy may be waived in impeachment cases, in cases involving bribery or dereliction of duty by public officials, and when the deposited money is the subject of litigation. “The impeachment court has the sole, exclusive power to determine an impeachable offense, and that includes the power to find out the entire truth and make your decision based on that basis,” Diokno said.

Each side received 15 minutes for arguments and 10 minutes for rebuttals.

The court is scheduled to rule on the subpoena request on Monday, July 20, 2026. On July 14, prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan announced the withdrawal of Zuleika Lopez, Duterte’s chief-of-staff, as a prosecution witness. Lead defense counsel Sheila Sison raised concerns about prosecution statements containing conclusions of law and facts.