The Senate impeachment court is set to rule on a request by the House prosecution panel to subpoena Vice President Sara Duterte’s bank and tax records, including related records from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC). Presiding officer and Senator-Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero says the court needs time to study the request after oral arguments are presented by both the prosecution and the defense during the ongoing impeachment trial. Escudero previously indicated that the court would decide following these arguments and announced the timeline for the ruling.
In separate updates, the court spokesperson, Atty. Regie Tongol, said that a “simple majority” of the senator-judges present during the Senate impeachment proceedings would be needed to grant the subpoena request. The references describe the request as one that requires approval based on the voting strength present, tying the outcome to the number of senator-judges attending the relevant voting session.
The decision is discussed as part of the sixth day of the impeachment trial, with the ruling scheduled for a specific date following completion of the oral arguments.
