Senator Panfilo Lacson stated that the sealed tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, can only be opened with the written authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. His comments came during a discussion about the records, which are crucial amid ongoing impeachment proceedings.
Legal Constraints on Tax Record Access
If these are subpoenaed but there is no written authority from the President, we cannot touch them because that would violate the law. We will only allow the box to be unsealed if all the legal requirements are complete.
Senator Panfilo Lacson
The sealed box, which contains the income tax returns of Duterte, Carpio, and their businesses, was submitted to the House Committee on Justice but has not been opened during the Senate impeachment trial.
- The tax records must remain sealed without presidential consent.
- Duterte's legal team agreed to an executive session for potential unsealing.
Lacson underscored the importance of adherence to the National Internal Revenue Code, warning that any attempt to unseal the box without proper authority could lead to legal repercussions.
The impeachment proceedings against Duterte stem from allegations of misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, and betrayal of public trust, making the handling of these records particularly sensitive.