Malacañang on Thursday confirmed that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has authorized the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to submit the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Atty. Mans Carpio, to the Senate impeachment court.
During a Palace press briefing on July 30, Palace Press Officer Atty. Claire Castro confirmed that President Marcos had already granted the necessary authorization to BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui Jr. to release the records in compliance with the impeachment court's request.
When asked whether the President had approved the submission of the tax records, Castro replied:
“Yes.”
Castro explained that while President Marcos had previously said he wanted to avoid involvement in the impeachment proceedings because he is also an impeachable official, he ultimately decided to follow the law and established legal procedures.
“Kung ano ang sinasabi ng batas, kung ano ang proseso, susunod po ang Pangulo. So kung yan ang sinasabi po at kinakailangan na magbigay siya ng kanyang approval sa BIR para mabuksan ang tax records nila VP Sara at ni Atty. Mans Carpio," Castro said.
"Hindi niya po ipagkakait ang katotohanan sa ating mga kababayan,” she added.
She added that the President's decision was guided by the need to allow the truth to come out rather than obstruct the legal process.
Asked whether the move could set a precedent for future administrations, Castro acknowledged the possibility but stressed that the current request came from the Senate as part of the impeachment proceedings.
“Yes, it can be. But hinihingi po ito ngayon na pagkakataon. At yun po ang sinasabi ng mga nasa Senado... Hindi po magiging hadlang si Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa paglabas ng katotohanan,” she said.
Castro also dismissed possible allegations that the authorization was politically motivated, saying such criticisms are common whenever the President makes decisions that affect certain individuals.
“Kapag ang Pangulo ay gumagawa ng naaayon sa batas pero merong tinatamaan, laging sasabihin nila, politically motivated,” Castro said.
She emphasized that President Marcos remains committed to complying with the law regardless of public criticism.
“Basta ang alam ng Pangulo, siya ay tumutupad sa proseso, siya ay tumutupad sa batas... hindi matitinag ang Pangulo,” she added.
The authorization comes after the Senate impeachment court ordered the production of the BIR records of Vice President Duterte and Atty. Carpio as part of the ongoing impeachment trial, where prosecutors are presenting evidence related to the articles of impeachment against the vice president.
