VP Duterte's husband contests tax record release

The husband of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte has raised legal objections to the release of their tax records, which were authorized by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for use in her ongoing impeachment trial. Lawyer Manases "Mans" Carpio stated on Friday, July 31, that while he and the vice president respect the authority of the Senate Impeachment Court and will comply with lawful processes, significant legal questions surround the authorization itself.

President Marcos granted approval on Thursday, July 30, allowing the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to submit the income tax records of Duterte, Carpio, and related businesses to the Senate. The court had issued subpoenas for the documents as part of the trial, where Duterte faces charges including corruption, bribery, and amassing unexplained wealth. She has denied all allegations, calling the proceedings politically motivated.

In a statement, Carpio argued the authorization must be evaluated under the constitutional and statutory framework governing taxpayer confidentiality and executive authority. He questioned whether all required procedural steps were followed before the release was ordered. Carpio also noted that...