THE Senate impeachment court has ruled to exclude the foreign currency deposits of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband Manases Carpio from the subpoena granted to the House prosecution panel.
Presiding Officer Senator‑Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero announced the decision on Monday, noting that the protection of these accounts is mandated by law and can only be lifted with the depositor’s written consent. The ruling covers not only their personal accounts but also 19 identified businesses and their partnerships with other lawyers.
“Insofar as the request covers foreign‑currency deposits of the respondent, her spouse, separately or jointly, as well as the corporations, it is denied. Such accounts shall be excluded unless and until the written consent of the respective depositors is produced,” Escudero declared. He emphasized that Republic Act No. 6426, or the Foreign Currency Deposit Act, sets a strict legal standard where confidentiality may only be breached if the account holder explicitly agrees. “The Court must draw a firm legal line regarding foreign‑currency deposits,” he added.
Despite this limitation, the court upheld the prosecution’s request for peso-denominated bank records, tax documents, and relevant Anti‑Money Laundering Council records. The House panel had argued that these financial documents are essential to substantiate allegations that the vice president accumulated unexplained wealth, a key component of the second article of impeachment filed against her.
The dual ruling marks a critical legal distinction in the ongoing proceedings: while authorities may examine local currency transactions to determine the truth behind the accusations, foreign currency accounts remain protected by existing statutes unless voluntarily disclosed. The decision balances the right of the prosecution to build its case with the legal safeguards in place to preserve the confidentiality of foreign‑currency deposits.
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