Metro Manila, Philippines – Impeachment Court presiding officer Chiz Escudero on Monday, July 6, ordered the return of the so-called “BIR box” containing the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Mans Carpio, to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).
Escudero said the court was not in custody of the box because there was no order for these documents to be turned over to the Senate.
“The chair therefore orders that the BIR box closed, sealed and as it is received be sent back to the BIR without prejudice to any action that the court may take,” Escudero said on the first day of the impeachment trial.
“If a motion will be filed by either party for the issuance of a subpoena, and we shall await action, if any, by the BIR commissioner should the time come,” Escudero said.
The prosecution panel earlier sought to open the box during the pre-trial briefing to inventory its contents.
Duterte’s defense panel spokesperson Michael Poa on Monday said that they were not averse to opening the pre-marking of the documents in the box.
Meanwhile, other lawmakers have called for the return of the box. Sen. Ping Lacson said that the court could have opted to send it back to the House prosecution team.
