VP Sara’s husband Mans Carpio seeks judicial review of tax records release

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband, Manases Carpio, argued on Friday, July 31, that there are legal issues surrounding the authorization for the release of their tax records that should undergo "judicial review."

“The authorization should be evaluated under the applicable constitutional and statutory framework governing taxpayer information and the exercise of executive authority,” his statement read.

This came after the Bureau of Internal Revenue submitted Duterte's and Carpio’s income tax records to the Senate impeachment court on Thursday, July 30, in compliance with a subpoena.

The Senate impeachment court confirmed that the Office of the Clerk of Court had received the BIR's submitted documents, along with records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Land Bank of the Philippines and the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI).

Malacañang confirmed on the same day that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had given the BIR the go signal to unseal and release Duterte's and Carpio’s tax records.

Under Section 71 of the National Internal Revenue Code, the president's approval is required before any tax records may be examined.

The tax and bank documents were subpoenaed after the House prosecutors argued that they were needed to prove the vice president's alleged unexplained wealth.

Carpio, however, argued in his statement that while he respects the authority of the Senate impeachment court, there is "no indication" that the tax bureau has determined or assessed any tax deficiency against him or Duterte.

His camp also raised concerns about whether all legal requirements and recommendations had been met before the authorization was issued.

“The submission of documents to the Senate Impeachment Court is a procedural step. The legal significance, admissibility, and evidentiary value of those documents are matters for the Court to determine in accordance with the Constitution, applicable law, and the Rules of the Senate Impeachment Court," Carpio said.