IN a significant ruling on the first day of proceedings, Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Senator Chiz Escudero ordered that the box containing the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband be sent back to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
The decision was issued after determining that there was no valid court order or formal directive authorizing the transfer and custody of these documents to the Senate. Escudero emphasized that legal procedures must be strictly followed when handling sensitive financial records.
The documents in question had been turned over earlier, but the court clarified that their retention was not supported by proper legal basis. Under existing rules, government agencies can only release confidential records such as tax filings upon a specific, lawful order issued by a competent court or tribunal. Since no such order had been presented to justify keeping the files within the Impeachment Court, Escudero ruled that they must be immediately returned to their rightful custodian, the BIR.
The order highlights the court’s commitment to upholding due process and respecting the rules on the release and handling of official documents. It also sets a clear guideline for both the prosecution and defense regarding what evidence may be admitted and how it should be acquired moving forward. With the records now ordered back to the tax agency, the proceedings will continue while both sides work within the bounds of established legal protocols.
metrosundaily
