Senator-judges' reservations won't affect court ruling on Sara Duterte records — spox

The reservations raised by some senator-judges over the issuance of subpoenas for the bank, tax, and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, will have no legal effect on the Senate impeachment court's ruling, its spokesperson said Wednesday.

Impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Regie Tongol made the statement in a Balitanghali interview, referring to the separate written manifestations filed by senator-judges Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, and Camille Villar.

“Wala nang gagawin ukol doon sa mga manifestation na ‘yun ang ating impeachment court dahil ito lamang ay inihain nung mga senator-judges na lima para lamang sa records ng journal ng ating impeachment court proceedings,” Tongol said.

(The impeachment court will take no further action on those manifestations because they were filed by the five senator-judges only for inclusion in the journal of the impeachment court proceedings.)

The senator-judges issued manifestations following the impeachment court's ruling on Monday granting the House prosecution panel’s request to issue subpoenas for the bank, tax, and AMLC records of Duterte, her husband, and businesses linked to them.

Tongol said the manifestations are not considered appeals of the resolution issued by Senate impeachment court presiding officer Senator-Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

“This will not make any legal decision or legal effect on the presiding officer’s resolution… Walang magagawa na ‘yun at hindi ‘yun kinokonsidera (nothing can be done about it and it is not considered) as appeal on the resolution of the presiding officer,” Tongol added.

In the court's ruling, Escudero also overruled the defense’s objection to the requested period covering 2007 to 2021. This means records predating Duterte’s election as vice president in 2022 must be produced before the court.

The impeachment court began issuing subpoenas to the AMLC, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and several banks on Wednesday morning, according to Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Alfredo Corpuz. — MCG, GMA News