By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will follow existing laws and due process in matters regarding the possible disclosure of Vice President Sara Duterte’s tax and bank records in connection with her impeachment trial, Malacañang said Thursday.
Speaking to reporters, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said any action concerning the release of tax or bank records would be governed by applicable laws.
Castro dismissed as “speculative” the concerns that legal provisions could be violated if the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, orders the opening of such records.
“Alam po natin ang batas na ‘yan, ang provision na ‘yan at may mga korte po ngayon, isama na po natin ang CTA (Court of Tax Appeals) na hindi naman po nangangailangan ng permiso ng Pangulo kapag sila ay magbubukas ng mga tax records kung patungkol po ito sa mga tax frauds o tax evasion,” she said.
Castro said it would be premature to conclude that any law or constitutional provision would be violated because the matter remains hypothetical.
Asked whether Marcos Jr. would authorize the release of the records if required under existing laws, Castro said the President has consistently maintained that all government actions must follow the processes prescribed by law.
Castro emphasized that Marcos is committed to upholding and complying with legal procedures.
The Senate impeachment court earlier granted the prosecution’s request to subpoena the tax records of Duterte.
Under Section 71 of Republic Act (RA) No. 8424 or the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 (NIRC), files such as Income Tax Returns and lists of taxpayers and filers may be opened to inspection upon the order of the President.
Section 270 of RA No. 8424 penalizes unauthorized disclosure by the Bureau of Internal Revenue but recognizes exceptions provided under Section 71 of the NIRC and Section 26 of RA No. 6388 or the Election Code.
