LAWYER Mans Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, has filed a petition with the Quezon City Regional Trial Court seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) against a subpoena issued by the House Committee on Justice.
The petition requests a 72-hour and/or 20-day TRO to prevent the House from obtaining the tax records of both the Vice President and Carpio himself, which are being sought as part of the ongoing impeachment proceedings against VP Duterte.
The subpoena, dated March 31, specifically requests copies of the income tax returns of Vice President Duterte and Atty. Carpio. Carpio’s petition argues that the subpoena is an overreach and seeks to have it declared “null and void ab initio” (invalid from the beginning).
Furthermore, the petition aims to halt the enforcement of the subpoena and to ensure that any evidence obtained through it is deemed inadmissible and therefore invalidated. This legal maneuver represents a significant development in the impeachment proceedings, as it directly challenges the House committee’s authority to compel the production of these specific financial documents.
The legal action taken by Atty. Carpio underscores the ongoing battle over the scope of investigative powers during impeachment inquiries.
By seeking a TRO, the defense is attempting to block the House committee’s access to potentially crucial evidence. The outcome of this petition at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court will have a major impact on the impeachment process, determining the extent to which such financial records can be legally accessed and utilized as part of legislative investigations.
metrosundaily
