The camp of Vice President Sara Duterte’s husband, lawyer Manases “Mans” Carpio, clarified on Friday, May 8, that the case filed before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Quezon City does not seek to stop or interfere with the ongoing impeachment proceedings in Congress, but instead focuses solely on protecting confidential tax records from unauthorized disclosure.

In a statement, the Carpio camp said the petition specifically asked the court to prevent the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) from producing, releasing, or transmitting alleged Annual Tax Returns (ATRs) or Income Tax Returns (ITRs), which the camp said are protected under the confidentiality provisions of existing tax laws.

According to Carpio’s lawyers, the subsequent decision of both the BIR and the House Committee on Justice (HCOJ) not to open the sealed box allegedly containing the tax documents effectively recognized the relief sought in the petition.

“The actions ultimately taken by the HCOJ and the BIR themselves demonstrate that what Atty. Carpio prayed for before the court was just, legal, and constitutional,” the statement read.

The legal team stressed that confidential tax documents cannot be disclosed without strict compliance with the safeguards and limitations imposed by law, reiterating that the issue before the court remains “limited and specific.”

“The issue before the court has always been limited and specific: preventing the unauthorized disclosure of confidential tax records — not stopping Congress from exercising its constitutional functions,” Carpio’s lawyers said.

Despite the developments, Carpio’s camp said they are still evaluating all available legal remedies, including the possible filing of a Motion for Reconsideration or an appeal, to fully protect their rights under the law.

“This only reinforces the consistent position that confidential tax documents cannot simply be disclosed without strict compliance with the safeguards and limitations imposed by law,” the lawyers added.

The clarification came amid public discussions linking the petition to the impeachment process, prompting the camp to emphasize that the court action is not intended to restrain congressional proceedings.