MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on justice has officially shifted its focus to the financial records of Vice President Sara Duterte, issuing subpoenas to the heads of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Commission on Audit (COA).
The move marks a significant escalation in the impeachment proceedings, as lawmakers seek to authenticate documents related to the Vice President’s tax compliance and her office’s use of multi-million peso confidential funds.
The committee, chaired by Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, has directed BIR Commissioner Charlito Martin Mendoza to submit the annual income tax returns (ITRs) of both the Vice President and her husband, Manases Carpio, covering nearly two decades from 2007 to 2025.
Simultaneously, state auditor Gloria Camora from COA’s Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office was summoned to present liquidation documents. These files pertain to the ₱612.5 million in confidential funds utilized by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) during the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first three quarters of 2023.
The summonses are linked to three primary pillars of the impeachment complaints:
- Fund Misuse: Allegations that hundreds of millions in confidential funds were liquidated with questionable supporting documentation.
- Corruption: Claims of irregularities within the DepEd during Duterte’s tenure as Secretary (2022–2024).
- Security Threats: Accusations involving an alleged plot targeting President Marcos, the First Lady, and the former House Speaker.
The next hearing is scheduled for April 14, 2026. This subpoena follows closely behind the Vice President’s own move to halt the proceedings by filing a petition for certiorari and prohibition with the Supreme Court, citing “grave abuse of discretion” by the House.
As the “probable cause” stage nears its conclusion, the testimony of these high-ranking financial officials is expected to be a cornerstone of the committee’s final report. The outcome will determine whether the House of Representatives will proceed to a plenary vote on the articles of impeachment.