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Senate Returns Sealed Duterte Tax Records to BIR, Defers Opening Decision
The Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte opened on July 6, 2026. Presiding officer Chiz Escudero directed that a sealed box of her tax records be returned to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Either side may seek a subpoena for the documents later.
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The Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte opened on July 6, 2026. Presiding officer Chiz Escudero ordered the return of a sealed box containing her tax records to the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Rappler reported that Escudero stated the box, closed and sealed as received, should be sent back without prejudice to future motions for a subpoena.
He added that either party may still ask the court to subpoena the BIR to turn over the records. The House of Representatives justice panel subpoenaed the records during its clarificatory hearings on the impeachment complaint in April. Lawmakers decided not to open the box amid questions on whether doing so would violate the National Internal Revenue Code.
The prosecution attempted to have the box opened during pre-trial proceedings, but the Senate clerk of court deferred the matter to allow the defense to comment. Duterte’s lawyers said they favor opening the box, but only in an executive session.
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