The Senate acting as an impeachment court orders the return of a sealed “BIR box” containing alleged tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her spouse. Reports say the court returns the container to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) after stating there is no lawful order for it to be under the court’s custody. Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and other Senate officials cite that the box was transmitted to the Senate as part of impeachment documents, but the court does not yet have custodial control because no directive was issued for it to be turned over to the court. BIR Commissioner Charlie Mendoza later confirms the sealed box’s arrival at the BIR.
House prosecutors, preparing for the impeachment trial set to begin on July 6, ask the Senate impeachment court to authorize opening the sealed box and to allow examination and inventorying of its contents for possible use as evidence related to Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth. Lawyers for Duterte initially objected to opening and even marking of the box but later indicate openness to unsealing for transparency. House prosecutors also consider seeking authorization from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to unveil the documents, as an option discussed by prosecution counsel Benjamin Tolosa Jr. Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian also says the tax records opening may not be the top priority in the trial’s agenda.
