Lacson: Sara Duterte tax records can only be opened with Marcos' authority

Senator-judge Panfilo Lacson on Sunday said the sealed box containing the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, should only be opened with the written authority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Lacson made the remark after Senate impeachment court presiding officer Senator Francis Escudero ordered the so-called "BIR box" returned to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), saying the court had not yet taken legal custody of the documents.

“Mas maganda yung ginawa ni Senator Chiz na ibinalik niya mismo sa BIR. At BIR ang bahalang mag-presenta niyan," Lacson said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(What Senator Chiz [Escudero] did was better—returning it directly to the BIR. It is up to the BIR to present the documents.)

"Kapag sinubpoena, wala siyang written authority from the president, hindi namin pwedeng pakialaman ‘yan dahil labag sa batas ‘yun. Papayagan lang namin ma-unseal 'yan kung kumpleto yung rekado,” he added.

(If these are subpoenaed but there is no written authority from the President, we cannot touch them because that would violate the law. We will only allow the box to be unsealed if all the legal requirements are complete.)

The sealed box contains the income tax returns (ITRs) of Duterte, Carpio, and their businesses.

The records were first submitted to the House Committee on Justice but were never opened before the Senate impeachment trial began.

The Vice President's legal team has said it would allow the box to be opened, but only if it is done in an executive session.

Lacson said opening the box without the required authorization could violate the National Internal Revenue Code.

“Kung pilit i-unseal without the written authority of the President, I will vote against it. That will be my personal vote na gagawin. Kasi ayokong masisi balang araw na part ako ng nag-violate ng batas,” he said.

(If they insist on unsealing it without the President's written authority, I will vote against it. That will be the vote I personally cast because I do not want to be blamed in the future for being part of those who violated the law.)

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on allegations that include the misuse of confidential and intelligence funds, unexplained wealth, and betrayal of public trust.—MCG, GMA News