VP’s husband questions release of tax documents
Lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, on Friday questioned President Marcos’ authorization that allowed the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to release their tax records to the Senate impeachment court.
In a statement, Carpio said while they respect the court’s authority and will comply with lawful processes, the order to release their income tax records “should be evaluated under the applicable constitutional and statutory framework governing taxpayer information and the exercise of executive authority.”
“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,” he said.
Carpio said there was “no indication” that the BIR has issued a tax assessment or deficiency notice against him or the Vice President.
QC court petition junked
He, along with his legal team, also questioned whether all the procedural requirements and recommendations contemplated under the applicable legal framework were fully met before the issuance.
Carpio said his legal team will “continue to raise all available legal arguments through the appropriate forums while respecting the authority and independence of the institutions involved.”
In April, Carpio filed a petition with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) to stop the BIR from releasing his tax records to the House of Representatives committee on justice, which was then examining evidence of the impeachment complaints against the Vice President.
Carpio had argued that “a private person’s tax returns are highly confidential in nature.”
The RTC junked the petition in May and Carpio said his legal team would evaluate available legal avenues to ensure his rights remain protected.
For Article II
On Thursday, the BIR submitted the records to the Office of the Clerk of Court after confirming that Mr. Marcos has authorized its release.
Under Section 71 of the National Internal Revenue Code, the President’s authorization is required before confidential taxpayer records can be inspected.
The Senate impeachment court had issued a subpoena directing the BIR to submit the tax records of the couple and 19 businesses supposedly linked to them.
House prosecutors sought the documents to support Article II of the articles of impeachment, saying that these could strengthen the allegations on the Vice President’s unexplained wealth.
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