House summons audit, tax agency in impeachment investigation of VP Duterte
By Erika Mae P. Sinaking, A reporter
The House of Representatives Committee on Justice has issued separate subpoenas to the Commission on Audit (CoA) and the Bureau of Internal Revenue, ordering top officials from both agencies to testify and submit government records relevant to the proceedings of the trial of Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte‑Carpio.
In a March 31 order, the panel ordered the parties to produce documents and appear before lawmakers, signaling a deeper level of evidence in the impeachment inquiry as the committee considers whether there are grounds to proceed with the case.
The subpoena to the audit committee was addressed to State Auditor V Gloria A. Camora of the Intelligence and Secret Funds Audit Commission, a special unit that manages records covering the use of secret and intelligence funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education for 20232 and 2020.
Ms. Camora oversees the audit files related to the payment of the secret fund while Ms.
Lawmakers have ordered the audit agency to submit original copies of all sales documents filed by the Office of the Vice President for secret funds covering the fourth quarter of 2022 and the first third of 2023. The committee also sought related bank records, internal audit reports, communications involving academic officials and any final findings issued by the audit agency.
The testimony of Ms. The Camora is needed to “identify and verify the requested documents,” underscoring the committee’s goal of creating an official paper trail based on basic government records, according to the subpoena.
The impeachment claims, among other grounds, improper sale and use of private funds by Ms. Duterte’s office.
The CoA unit responsible for reviewing intelligence and privacy spending is considered by lawmakers to be the primary source of evidence to establish the factual basis of those claims.
Complaints were filed separately by Joel T. Saballa and others, endorsed by party list attorney Leila M. de Lima, and Nathaniel G. Cabrera, endorsed by Reps. Bienvenido M. Abante, Jr. and Paolo P. Ortega V.
The committee previously found both sufficient in nature and substance and is now conducting a hearing to determine probable cause.
TAX RECORDS
Separately, the team subpoenaed Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Charlito Martin R. Mendoza, seeking nearly two decades of tax records related to Mrs. Duterte and her husband, Manases R. Carpio.
The committee is seeking certified copies of the couple’s annual tax returns from 2007 to 2025, as well as tax compliance records and income records tied to the business entities they are suspected of having interests in.
The subpoena ordered Mr. Mendoza to identify and certify the income tax returns and annual financial statements filed with the tax office, and testify to the documents submitted to his office.
Lawmakers have said the tax records are important in investigating claims of unexplained wealth and breaches of public trust outlined in the impeachment letters.
Both summonses were signed by Judiciary committee Chairman Gerville R. Luistro and Speaker Faustino “Bojie” G. Dy III, and witnessed by Secretary-General Cheloy E. Velicaria‑Garafil.
The committee’s actions mark the expansion of its investigation as it moves forward to compel evidence and records from monitoring agencies key to the allegations being reviewed.
The House also summoned Ombudsman Jesus Crispin C. Remulla to testify and change the Vice President’s wealth declarations.
Mr. Remulla on Monday said he will comply with the order and appear in court on April 14. He was ordered to bring certified copies of the statements of Ms.
The records are needed “so that the committee is informed of the assets, liabilities and net worth” declared by the Vice President from the time he took office until now, according to the summons.
Political analysts have previously said the trial risks undermining Ms.
The move to oust Ms. Duterte intensifies the political rivalry between her and President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., who were once allies who ran together on a unity ticket but ended up emerging as rivals.
