By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has given the green light to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to submit the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, to the Senate Impeachment Court, Malacañang confirmed Thursday.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer and Undersecretary Claire Castro said the President’s actions concerning the release of tax records were governed by applicable laws.
“Kung ano ang sinasabi ng batas, kung ano ang proseso, susunod po ang Pangulo,” Usec. Castro said.
“So, kung yan ang sinasabi po at kinakailangang magbigay siya ng kanyang approval sa BIR para mabuksan ang tax records nila VP Sara at Atty. Manases Carpio, at ito naman po ay para sa katotohanan, hindi niya po ipagkakait ang katotohanan sa ating mga kababayan,” she added.
This, as representatives from the BIR submitted the records to the Senate Office of the Clerk of Court on Thursday morning, the deadline set by the Impeachment Court during Day 7 of the trial last July 20.
Under Section 71 of Republic Act No. 8424, or the National Internal Revenue Code, files such as Income Tax Returns and lists of taxpayers and filers may be opened to inspection upon the order of the President.
According to the House prosecution panel, the Duterte couple’s tax and bank records would be crucial to the hearing of Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which charges the Vice President with amassing unexplained wealth, failure to accurately disclose assets in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs) from 2022 to 2024, and failure to divest business interests.
On possible criticisms regarding Marcos Jr.’s decision to authorize the release of Vice President Duterte’s tax records, Usec. Castro maintained that the President will remain unfazed and will continue to follow the law.
“Sa lahat naman ng pagkakataon kapag ang Pangulo ay gumagawa ng naaayon sa batas pero merong tinatamaan, laging sasabihin nila politically motivated. So, saan pupunta, saan gagawi ang Pangulo?,” Usec. Castro said.
“Kahit ano pang sabihin ng iba, basta ang alam ng Pangulo, siya ay tumutupad sa proseso, siya ay tumutupad sa batas, kahit siya pa ay paringgan o bigyan ng negatibong impresyon, hindi matitinag ang Pangulo.” (with report from Bernard Ferrer and Clay Pardilla / PTV News)
-jpv
