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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Gatchalian: Unsealing of box containing VP Duterte's tax records may be done during trial

Gatchalian: Unsealing of box containing VP Duterte's tax records may be done during trial

Published Jun 28, 2026 04:40 pm

At A Glance

  • According to the Senate leader, the Impeachment Court may decide to open the sealed box containing the income tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte during the course of the trial.
Vice President Sara Duterte honors OVP frontliners, fathers, disaster responders, and security personnel, saying their sacrifices and dedication to public service deserve recognition despite the political challenges facing the Office of the Vice President. (Photo from Inday Duterte's Facebook page)
Vice President Sara Duterte honors OVP frontliners, fathers, disaster responders, and security personnel, saying their sacrifices and dedication to public service deserve recognition despite the political challenges facing the Office of the Vice President. (Photo from Inday Duterte's Facebook page)

The Impeachment Court may decide to open the sealed box containing the income tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte during the course of the trial.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said this may happen even if the box was not marked during the pre-trial conference.

Last Friday, Senate Secretary and Impeachment Clerk of Court Renato Bantug said unsealing the box from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) was deferred to allow the defense time to file its comment.

According to Bantug, the defense wanted to comment on the House prosecution panel’s manifestation to unseal the box containing the tax records of the Vice President, her husband, Manases Carpio, and their firms.

Bantug also said the BIR box cannot be opened unless authorized by the Impeachment Court. 

“Yes, they submitted a memo to the impeachment court. I know that's the only thing that's left unmarked. So they submitted a memo for the impeachment court to study. So, the impeachment court will decide if it will be opened and when it will be opened,” Gatchalian said in an interview on Radio DZBB. 

Asked if it can be opened during the trial, Gatchalian replied in the affirmative.

“Correct. If, let's say, we reach, I believe, Article 2, Letter A, that's where they will offer it. The prosecution will offer it and that's when the impeachment court will decide,” the senator said.

The box, which was transmitted by the BIR to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Justice last April, was later forwarded sealed to the Senate after a motion to open it failed during the panel’s initial proceedings.

It is among the evidence that the prosecution is pushing to be presented in relation to Article II of the Articles of Impeachment filed against Duterte. 

Article II of the impeachment complaint accuses the Vice President of amassing unexplained wealth inordinate to her lawful income. 

Also under Article II, the prosecution accuses the Vice President of failing to truthfully disclose her assets, liabilities, and net worth.

The Senate is set to start the impeachment trial on July 6, 2026. 

Related Tags

Duterte impeachment case 2026 VP Sara Duterte Senate impeachment court impeachment court Philippines
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