Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon – Photo courtesy of Terry Ridon/Facebook
Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon expressed confidence that the House prosecution could persuade the Senate impeachment court to subpoena Vice President Sara Duterte’s financial records.
Ridon said Saturday that the court’s authority to compel the production of documents came directly from the Constitution and could not be defeated by confidentiality provisions under ordinary laws.
The senator-judges deferred their ruling last week on the prosecution’s request for Duterte’s bank, tax and anti-money laundering records. They were given until Monday, July 20, to review the arguments presented by both sides.
Defense lawyer Michael Poa had asked the court to reject the request, arguing that it amounted to a fishing expedition that could violate Duterte’s right to privacy and protections under bank and tax secrecy laws.
Ridon disputed that position, citing reports that financial institutions had flagged transactions worth Php 6.7 billion allegedly linked to Duterte and her husband.
He said records from before Duterte became vice president were necessary to establish a baseline for her wealth and determine how her assets changed while she served as vice mayor and mayor of Davao City.
Ridon also pointed to Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities and net worth from 2019 to 2024, which reportedly declared no cash on hand or in banks. He said the discovery of any undeclared funds during that period could raise questions about the accuracy of her filings.
The lawmaker maintained that bank secrecy rules contain an exception for impeachment proceedings and argued that confidentiality provisions covering Anti-Money Laundering Council and Bureau of Internal Revenue records should not prevent the Senate court from obtaining evidence needed to determine the truth.