Category: Philippines Daily Inquirer

House prosecutors expressed confidence on Sunday that the Senate impeachment court would vote in favor of their request to subpoena Vice President Sara Duterte’s financial records, saying the documents are crucial to determining whether she amassed unexplained wealth and betrayed the public trust.

The vote, set for Monday afternoon, is expected to be one of the most consequential procedural rulings in Duterte’s impeachment trial, now on its seventh day, with prosecutors arguing the records are essential to proving allegations under Article II of the articles of impeachment regarding her undeclared wealth.

The proposed subpoena covers Duterte’s bank accounts, tax records and documents from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), as well as those of her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.

‘We trust that it will be granted, as the basis of our request to subpoena these documents is strong,’ prosecution spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said over dzBB radio.

Tolosa cited the 2012 impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, during which the Senate ordered the production of bank records despite bank secrecy protections. He also noted that Republic Act No. 1405, or the bank secrecy law, expressly exempts impeachment proceedings from its confidentiality rules.

‘Impeachment is an exception to bank secrecy laws. It is clear and specified that in impeachment proceedings, such disclosure is allowed,’ he said.

Court’s authority

Tolosa dismissed concerns that the Senate might reject the request, saying the prosecution remained confident.

‘Our articles of impeachment do not rest on a single piece of evidence,’ he said. ‘Even so, we will firmly fight to have these documents presented.’

The Senate deferred action after hearing oral arguments last Wednesday, when prosecutors and the defense sparred over whether accountability or financial confidentiality should prevail.

Prosecutor Chel Diokno argued that the subpoena would enable the impeachment court to uncover the truth about allegations that Duterte amassed wealth disproportionate to her lawful income and engaged in constitutionally prohibited business interests.

He maintained that the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, derives its authority directly from the Constitution and may compel disclosure of otherwise confidential records. Diokno cited the bank secrecy law’s impeachment exception and argued that the Data Privacy Act also permits disclosure under a valid subpoena.

He further argued that financial records dating back to Duterte’s tenure as Davao City vice mayor and mayor are relevant because the impeachment complaint alleges she accumulated unexplained wealth while serving as a public official.

Citing an AMLC report presented before the House, Diokno said Duterte’s financial activity exceeded P3 billion from 2007 to 2013. He also invoked the Corona impeachment, where the Senate admitted bank records predating Corona’s appointment as chief justice.

‘Fishing expedition’

Lead defense counsel Michael Poa countered that the issue is not whether the Senate has subpoena power but whether it may exercise that authority without violating due process and laws protecting confidential financial information.

Poa described the request as an impermissible ‘fishing expedition,’ arguing prosecutors sought financial evidence only after impeachment complaints had already been filed.

He also said the subpoena was overly broad because it sought records dating back nearly two decades, including periods when Duterte was Davao vice mayor, a position not subject to impeachment.

Citing the 2025 Supreme Court ruling in Duterte v. House of Representatives, he argued that impeachable offenses must be committed while occupying an impeachable office.

The defense also argued that while the bank secrecy law recognizes impeachment as an exception, disclosure is not automatic and must still satisfy due process.

Poa maintained that the Anti-Money Laundering Act and the National Internal Revenue Code contain no impeachment exception for AMLC reports and tax records, and objected to including Carpio’s records because he is not an impeachable official.

‘Second envelope’ episode

Civil society groups urged senator-judges to approve the subpoena.

The August Twenty-One Movement (Atom) warned against repeating the controversial ‘second envelope’ vote during former President Joseph Estrada’s 2001 impeachment trial, saying efforts to withhold key evidence ultimately fueled public outrage and Estrada’s downfall.

‘We implore the senator-judges to stand for what is right, for what is true, and for what is just, and vote to subpoena the bank accounts,’ Atom said, adding that if Duterte is innocent, disclosure would clear her name.

Faith-based coalition Kingdom Keepers likewise urged the Senate to compel production of Duterte’s bank, tax and AMLC records, arguing that public officials are accountable for their finances.

‘She must prove… that she has refrained from using her office to accumulate ill-gotten wealth. She cannot hide behind the skirt of privacy and confidentiality,’ the group led by activist priest Fr. Robert Reyes and social anthropologist Dr. Melba Padilla Maggay said.

‘If it is true that she did not amass ill-gotten wealth as vice mayor or mayor, why should she be afraid to reveal the truth about this?’ the group added.

Duterte faces four articles of impeachment accusing her of misusing confidential funds, amassing unexplained wealth and threatening President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

If convicted, she would be removed from office and permanently disqualified from holding any public position.

Meanwhile, Tolosa said National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag is expected to testify on Tuesday on the agency’s probe into Duterte’s alleged threats against the President, including its finding that the remarks were not merely spontaneous but formed part of an actual plan.

‘He is the one who can shed light on the thorough investigation conducted by the NBI regarding the killer the vice president spoke to,’ he said.

Despite the arrest of an incumbent senator, a former senator and a former Cabinet secretary, there are still other ‘big fish’ allegedly involved in the public works scandal who should be joining them in jail.

This was the assessment of Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, who criticized what he called the Marcos administration’s ‘selective prosecution’ in the multibillion-peso kickback scheme involving flood mitigation structures, saying the ‘principal architects’ remain scot-free.

‘There is selective prosecution and selective accountability, based only on whether one is an ally or an opponent of the administration … and that is the prevailing public perception today,’ Tinio said in a statement in Filipino. ‘Those jailed bear responsibility, but the public believes they are not the most accountable for the flood control corruption.’

‘The crucial question now is what if the biggest fish is President Bongbong Marcos himself?’ he asked.

Tinio cast doubts on the administration’s crackdown, noting that those who have been detained appear not to be allies of the Marcoses.

Arrests limited to few

In his fourth State of the Nation Address last year, Mr. Marcos exposed a massive corruption scheme where politicians, state engineers and private contractors colluded to siphon public funds through substandard or nonexistent projects-a scandal that has since emerged as his administration’s biggest challenge.

READ: Blue ribbon panel to resume flood control probe after Sona

Arrests have so far been limited to a few, such as Sen. Jose ‘Jinggoy’ Estrada, former Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr., contractor-couple Curlee and Sarah Discaya and several engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Tinio said top officials, including former Speaker Martin Romualdez, the President’s cousin, and Sen. Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero, who was Senate President when the scandal erupted, have largely been spared even as they remain under investigation by the Sandiganbayan.

Even former Cabinet members, including ex-Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and the former head of the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, have escaped the fallout, along with former DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, who has since turned state witness, he added.

Tinio said the absence of charges against top officials may point to a more sinister possibility-the graft scandal reaches all the way to the President, and shielding his allies is meant to keep him from being dragged into the mess.

‘Under the President’s leadership, they should be held primarily accountable. Yet they are not being charged-first, because Marcos must protect his allies; and second, because he must protect himself,’ he said.

Romualdez’s side

In a separate statement, Romualdez’s lawyer said the former Speaker was prepared to face the complaints that the Office of the Ombudsman may file against him.

Lawyer Ade Fajardo, however, pointed out that there has been no evidence implicating Romualdez in the scandal, despite claims he helped channel funds to dubious projects in the annual budgets when he was still House leader.

‘There is truly no proof or evidence against him in the flood control anomalies. There is not even a preliminary investigation yet, as the case remains in buildup status,’ he said in Filipino.

Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said last Friday his office was ‘very close’ to filing plunder charges against Romualdez.

‘The former Speaker is not evading accountability in facing all of this. He voluntarily stepped down as Speaker to give way to the investigation,’ Fajardo said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will begin the rollout of its cash assistance under the expanded Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food and Transport (Uplift) program this week.

‘Yesterday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the Uplift assistance. This is the pivot or the next stage of our financial assistance for our fellow citizen in light of the energy emergency,’ Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said in a press briefing on Friday, noting the tensions in the Middle East.

Gatchalian said the program covers three groups of beneficiaries: 3.5 million households under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Walang Gutom Program (WGP); 2.5 million poor and near-poor households identified through the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS); and 1.5 million low-income Social Security System (SSS) members.

He said households under 4Ps and WGP will receive a one-time cash aid of P2,000.

Payout rules

CBMS-identified households under group 2 and qualified SSS members under group 3 will receive P2,000 a month for six months (July to December).

For 4Ps beneficiaries, the cash aid will be credited directly to their Land Bank of the Philippines or GCash accounts, while WGP beneficiaries will receive the assistance through manual payouts during their scheduled food redemption schedules.

The DSWD will conduct an initial manual payout for the 2.5 million CBMS beneficiaries, as they are a new group of beneficiaries, before shifting to digital payments, Gatchalian said.

He said local government units will help organize the payout schedules, but clarified that the list of beneficiaries came solely from the PSA’s CBMS and was not sourced from any local or national officials.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Batangas evacuated a crew member from a passenger vessel after he reportedly suffered symptoms of a mild stroke while the ship was sailing off Batangas on Sunday, July 19.

In a report, the PCG-Batangas said it received an emergency medical evacuation request from the Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS) Batangas at 11:20 a.m.

The patient, a 57-year-old third engineer, experienced symptoms consistent with a mild stroke while the vessel was en route from Cagayan de Oro City to Manila and navigating waters south of Maricaban Island in Tingloy, Batangas.

A Coast Guard response team immediately proceeded to the vessel and conducted an initial assessment, finding the crew member conscious and responsive.

The patient, whose identity was withheld, was safely transferred to a rigid-hull inflatable boat, allowing the passenger vessel to continue its voyage to Manila.

The PCG team then transported the patient to the port of Batangas, where he was turned over to a waiting ambulance and immediately taken to Batangas Health Care Specialists Medical Center for further evaluation and treatment.

According to information provided by fellow crew members, the patient had been unable to take his prescribed maintenance medication. Upon waking up, he reportedly experienced numbness in one of his legs.

Recognizing the seriousness of his condition, the vessel’s crew immediately coordinated with authorities to request an emergency medical evacuation.

The identities of ‘Mary Grace Piattos,’ ‘Milky Secuya,’ and other individuals listed as the supposed recipients of confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President will be among the key issues when the House prosecution begins presenting evidence on the impeachment article accusing Vice President Sara Duterte of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds and committing a betrayal of public trust.

Rep. Terry L. Ridon made that statement during the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.

The defense, he added, should explain who actually received confidential funds if the supposed recipients would turn out to be fictitious.

‘We will talk about Mary Grace Piattos [at the trial]. Who is Mary Grace Piattos, and is Mary Grace Piattos a real person?’ Ridon said in Filipino.

‘If Mary Grace Piattos is not a real person, then who got the money for which Mary Grace Piattos signed?’ he added.

Alleged misuse of OVP confidential funds

The prosecution is scheduled to begin presenting evidence on the confidential funds charge on July 22.

It has already completed its presentation on the impeachment article involving Duterte’s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez.

The impeachment article accuses Duterte of misusing a total of P612.5 million in confidential funds – P125 million spent by the OVP in the final 11 days of 2022, P375 million in OVP confidential funds in 2023, and P112.5 million in confidential funds spent by the Department of Education in 2023 while she was concurrently its secretary.

Ridon said the prosecution would present records from the Philippine Statistics Authority showing that no birth, marriage, or death records could be found for Piattos, Milky Secuya, and several other names listed as recipients of confidential funds released by the OVP.

‘We will talk about the PSA report that nobody was born, died, or was married named Mary Grace Piattos, Milky Secuya, and other names in the list of recipients of confidential funds of [the OVP],’ he said.

He said the prosecution would also call a National Bureau of Investigation handwriting expert to testify on similarities among signatures appearing on acknowledgment receipts bearing different recipients’ names.

The prosecution also plans to present the findings of the Commission on Audit, including the notice of disallowance covering P73.287 million in confidential expenses incurred by the OVP in 2022.

Ridon said the disallowance had already become final at the level of the Commission on Audit Proper

He added that the prosecution’s evidence would ultimately allow the Senate impeachment court to determine whether the confidential funds were lawfully spent or whether their use constituted betrayal of public trust.

As the Binibining Pilipinas sisterhood celebrates its two new queens on Saturday night, a lot of behind-the-scene moments and even on-cam sequences took place at the staging of the grand coronation night of the longest-running national pageant.

Gwendoline Soriano of Baguio City and Sasha-Juli Belle Lacuna of Tarlac were hailed as the big winners of the four-hour-long grand finals show that served as the culmination of the 62nd edition of Binibining Pilipinas, held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Here are the key highlights of the event, and some backstory behind it:

‘Tala’ got the audience to their feet

Sarah Geronimo’s viral dance track ‘Tala’ made for a serious case of LSS (last song syndrome) for candidates and viewers. The catchy dance hit was rearranged for the opening production number at the program while all 35 Binibining Pilipinas candidates gyrated in their short pink outfits with panels of indigenous fabric, and matching pink ‘salakot’ (native sun hat).

The dynamic stage with massive LED panels flashed patterns inspired by local weaves to render a cohesive Filipino theme for the rousing opening number that got the audience to their feet, bringing back the time when ‘Tala’ enjoyed a viral dance trend.

The song played again, capping the evening with a rain of confetti, after the coronation of the new queens Soriano and Lacuna.

Miriam Quiambao back to hosting

Spectators and those who watched online got another treat with the return of Miriam Quiambao on the Bb. Pilipinas stage as one of the hosts, alongside her pageant sisters and ‘regular’ emcees Nicole Cordoves, MJ Lastimosa, and Catriona Gray.

The 1999 Miss Universe first runner-up, and one of the most-loved beauty queens of the Philippines, seemed to have never taken a pageant hiatus and enjoyed a vibrant chemistry with her fellow hosts, a trio that has shared the same stage in many of the previous editions.

Diverse group of judges

Netizens also cited the exemplary set of judges, composed of a diverse set of individuals who are accomplished in their respective fields.

The panel includes pro cager Scottie Thompson, award-winning actress Janine Gutierrez, and Bb. Pilipinas queens-1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz and 2005 Miss International Precious Lara Quigaman.

Two reigning international pageant titleholders joined them, 2025 The Miss Globe Cheraim Chayathanus Saradatta from Thailand and 2025 Miss International Catalina Duque from Colombia, who also indulged fans with their ‘pasarela’ (pageant walk) onstage, and even shared stories in a quick interview.

Completing the judging panel are Filipino-Australian chef Oliver ‘Oli’ Buenviaje, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel ‘Babes’ Romualdez, Mrs Erika Lipton, wife of US Ambassador to the Philippines, and fashion designer Paul Cabral.

Risa Hontiveros receives biggest applause

Speaking of Hontiveros, the opposition senator received the biggest applause when her name was first called and every time thereafter whenever she was introduced to state her questions to Binibining Pilipinas candidates. Such were the cheers that Quiambao quipped, ‘andaming fans ni senator! (the senator has a lot of fans).’

On her social media platforms, Hontiveros posted a video showing snippets of her appearance as one of the judges for Binibining Pilipinas 2026. In the video, Lipton, who was seated beside her, appeared amazed and seemingly mouthed ‘wow’ when the senator received applause from the Smart Araneta crowd, while fellow judge Diaz danced beside her as they were standing up waiting for the ceremonies to start.

‘Minsan Senator-Judge, minsan Bb. Pilipinas Judge hehe,’ Hontiveros captioned her post, also referring to her position as senator-judge in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

No flubs

With such an outstanding set of judges came thought-provoking questions in a variety of subjects that challenged the 12 semifinalists. But the ladies did not flinch, and displayed grace under time pressure with great answers. There were no potentially-viral flubs this time.

And to the delight of many, another round of questioning tested the delegates anew. Gray herself said she manifested it. ‘The pageant gods listened,’ she said.

For the first time ever in the national pageant’s 62-year history, the field was narrowed down further to the final four, for the common question round. And the finalists did not disappoint.

Cordoves, who conducted a learning session with the delegates earlier, declared on stage that the candidates’ performance has made her proud to be their question-and-answer mentor.

Vintage theme song

And for the final look with the Top 4, the pageant brought back the vintage arrangement of the iconic Bb. Pilipinas theme song to add drama to the climactic moment. The queens in attendance sang along while the spectators savored the moment.

Another delight to the audience and those watching remotely was the ‘Sisters of the Crown’ filler programs, which first served as a prelude to the main show, then continued in between ‘breaks.’

No commercial break

Instead of watching commercials, the public got treated to pocket shows wherein 2013 Miss International Bea Rose Santiago and 2024 Bb. Pilipinas Globe Jasmin Bungay invited the pageant’s alumnae queens for a quick chat.

The former queens who used to just stay in their seats while watching the show suddenly enjoyed more ‘airtime,’ something avid pageant fans have always appreciated.

Fans flooded social media posts with approving comments about how the 62nd Bb. Pilipinas Grand Coronation Night carried on the legacy that the national pageant has established.

The 62nd Bb. Pilipinas Grand Coronation Night was mounted by Aika Events and Productions, that has been staging the national pageant’s final ceremonies since 2023.

TNT didn’t have some of its usual suspects in its PBA Governors’ Cup debut, but the Tropang 5G still managed to do just enough to beat Macau, 106-103, at Araneta Coliseum on Sunday.

TNT had to make do without Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.

Still, coach Chot Reyes’ wards held down the fort to keep the Giant Pandas winless in four games in Group A.

Rey Nambatac came off the bench to lead TNT to victory with 23 points and six assists with a steal and a block to boot.

‘It’s such a big factor that we’re incomplete, so people needed to step up, including myself,’ Nambatac said.

‘For the rest of the conference, we need to be consistent. We all need to step up until our teammates are healthy.’

The Tropang 5G, who played their first game since losing to Barangay Ginebra in Game 7 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals last month, looked primed to run away with the win, up 104-89 with 3:19 to go.

However, the Giant Pandas had one last fight in them and went on a 12-0 surge to pull within three, 104-101, with 25 ticks to go.

With TNT still ahead by three, 106-103, Xucheng Lu had a chance to win it for Macau but he couldn’t convert on a 4-pointer as time ran out.

Darius Days, who’s just filling in until Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is finally cleared to play, finished with 23 points and six rebounds. Roger Pogoy posted 21 points.

De’Vondre Perry powered the Giant Pandas with 36 points and 10 rebounds, while Chong Qui added 24. Ramon Cao also recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Many residents of Maribojoc, Bohol continue to face daily hardships as the closure of Bato Bridge forces them to cross the Abatan River by boat, with high tides further delaying emergency repair works on the damaged bridge approach.

The bridge, located in Barangay Cabawan, has been closed since July 14 and will remain closed until Aug. 12, 2026, to allow emergency repairs on the sinking bridge approach.

For many residents, the closure has disrupted their daily routines.

Grace, a student from Barangay Busao, said she has been taking a motorized boat to reach school for the past four days.

She said the daily trip has become exhausting, especially during the morning rush when only two boat operators are available to ferry passengers across the river.

Commuters pay P20 per crossing and often have to wait in line.

Although an alternative land route is available, it requires a detour of about 20 kilometers compared to the roughly 500-meter river crossing.

The situation becomes even more difficult during high tide.

Since Monday, waist-high floodwaters have submerged the damaged bridge approach.

Water levels peaked at 2.44 meters on Wednesday and were expected to remain high from around 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Thursday, preventing repair crews from working during the day.

Construction activities can only resume once the water recedes, allowing workers to continue repairs until about 10 p.m.

According to the Maribojoc local government, the bridge was temporarily closed to facilitate urgent repairs after soil settlement was observed at the bridge approach.

During the closure, all vehicles and pedestrians are prohibited from crossing the bridge until authorities declare it safe for public use.

Motorists, commuters and residents have been advised to use designated alternate routes and follow traffic advisories issued by local authorities.

The local government also appealed for patience and cooperation from the public, warning residents not to attempt crossing the closed bridge for their own safety.

Authorities said the damaged bridge approach continues to sink despite compaction and the placement of limestone fill materials.

The problem began on June 9 and has been aggravated by repeated high tides, slowing rehabilitation efforts.

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) clarified that the delay in completing the Bato Bridge project is not caused by any structural defect in the bridge itself.

DPWH Bohol 1st Engineering District Planning Head Engr. Julius Cesar Cadao said the bridge structure remains sound, but the bridge approach has been affected by unstable ground conditions and recurring high tides, requiring additional engineering work.

Cadao said the district office requested P80 million to complete the project this year, but only P8 million was released by the DPWH Central Office, resulting in a funding shortfall.

He said the district has already raised the matter with DPWH Regional Director Simeon Arias and DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon to secure the remaining funds needed to complete the project.

The DPWH has requested a total of P150 million for the Maribojoc Bridge project. Of this amount, P62.5 million was funded under the 2024 General Appropriations Act and P26.5 million under the 2025 budget.

The status of the bridge was among the issues discussed during a July 3 committee investigation conducted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Public Works and Highways, chaired by Board Member Nathaniel Binlod.

A grade school teacher at Ateneo de Naga University was found dead inside her home in Barangay Pacol here on Saturday, July 18, police said.

In a report released on Sunday, the Naga City Police Office said Leizel Permale was found by her live-in partner at 6:36 p.m., lying naked on the floor beside the bed on the second floor of their house.

In a statement issued Sunday, Ateneo de Naga University expressed its condolences to the victim’s family.

‘We request prayers for her eternal repose. We pray for her family and friends, for consolation and justice during this difficult time,’ the university said.

Police said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Permale’s death is ongoing

Vice President Sara Duterte should let her lawyers present her bank and tax records before the Senate impeachment court, as they would be her best defense against the accusation that she had amassed unexplained wealth.

Lawyer Benjamin ‘Jay’ Tolosa Jr., House prosecution spokesperson and private prosecutor, made that proposal on Sunday in an interview over AM radio DZBB’s ‘Bantay Balita sa Kongreso.’

Those records, Tolosa pointed out, would best counter the findings of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) that she had misrepresented her wealth in her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth.

‘So if they really want to prove that the amounts in their bank records or account in this period were not that big, shouldn’t they themselves show their bank records?’ Tolosa said in Filipino.

He also pointed out that the prosecution was not seeking a general inquiry into all of Duterte’s bank accounts. Rather, it was merely asking the Senate impeachment court to subpoena specific accounts already identified in AMLC reports, complete with the corresponding account numbers and branch information.

Suspicious transactions

Tolosa recalled that, during the clarificatory hearings of the House committee on justice, AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura testified that reports reflected P6.7 billion in covered and suspicious transactions involving the bank accounts of Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, from 2005 to 2026.

In response, the vice president’s camp claimed that the amount was inflated because it could have included repeated deposits and withdrawals or transfers between Duterte’s own bank accounts.

Tolosa argued, however, that those explanations made disclosing the actual bank records even more important.

‘Now, those are what will give proof of what the bank accounts really contained in the same period,’ he said.

Tolosa stressed the prosecution’s position that Duterte did not fully disclose her assets in her SALNs, considering the billions of pesos disparity between the transactions reported by the AMLC and Duterte’s declared net worth of P88.5 million in 2024.

To determine whether she had unexplained wealth, he said the impeachment court must compare the assets declared in her SALNs with her income tax returns filed with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the AMLC reports, and the balances reflected in her bank records.

Only by examining these documents together, he said, can the impeachment court determine whether Duterte’s total wealth was substantially greater than what she declared while in public office.

The continued opposition of the defense to releasing the records raises more questions than it answers, Tolosa said.

The Senate impeachment court is expected to rule on the prosecution’s motion to subpoena the sealed BIR box containing Duterte’s income tax returns and her bank records on the seventh day of the trial.