THE House prosecution team will ask that the sealed Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) box containing tax records linked to Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, her husband Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio and their firms be brought to the Senate pre-trial room Thursday morning and opened as part of the impeachment proceedings.
House prosecutor Terry L. Ridon of Bicol Saro Party-list on late Wednesday night said the box should finally be opened before the Senate impeachment court because the records are relevant to the article on unexplained wealth.
“Papababa natin bukas (Thursday) ng umaga sa pre-trial room ang BIR box na may kinalaman sa tax records ng Bise Presidente, ng kanyang asawa at ng kanilang mga kumpanya,” Ridon said, adding that the matter was contained in a Manifestation with Proposal on Certain Additional Pre-Trial Matters filed by the prosecution panel as part of ongoing preparations for the impeachment trial set to begin on July 6.
The sealed BIR box was not opened during the House Committee on Justice deliberations on the impeachment complaints against Duterte after the panel voted to keep the records sealed and include the box in the records of the proceedings.
“Hindi ito nabuksan sa Justice Committee, pero ngayon nasa impeachment court na tayo at bahagi ito ng ebidensyang kailangang tingnan kaugnay ng Article II on unexplained wealth,” Ridon said.
Ridon said the prosecution expects Duterte’s defense team to oppose the opening of the BIR box, based on its initial position during the pre-trial proceedings.
“Malamang tututol ang depensa sa pagbubukas ng BIR box dahil sinabi na nila kanina na hindi sila papayag,” Ridon said.
The prosecution panel has maintained that the contents of the BIR box may help establish whether Duterte’s declared assets, liabilities, net worth and income declarations are consistent with the records relevant to the unexplained wealth article.
“Hindi puwedeng pag-usapan ang unexplained wealth nang hindi tinitingnan kung saan nagsimula, paano lumago at paano nadeclare ang assets at income na pinag-uusapan,” Ridon said.
House prosecution legal spokesperson Atty. Benjamin “Jay” Tolosa Jr. said the request to open the box is consistent with the purpose of pre-trial, which is to identify evidence, mark exhibits and narrow the matters that will be presented once the impeachment trial begins.
“If the defense has an objection, then they can put that objection on record and the impeachment court can rule on it,” Tolosa said.
Ridon said the prosecution is prepared to move immediately after the defense objects so the issue can be brought to the impeachment court without delaying the July 6 trial schedule.
“Kung mag-o-object sila, ilalagay natin sa record at hihilingin natin na maresolba ito sa lalong madaling panahon dahil hindi dapat maantala ang paglilitis,” Ridon said.
