The House prosecution panel is prepared to submit financial records involving Vice President Sara Duterte, her husband Manases Carpio, and companies linked to him to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for possible investigation into tax violations.
House prosecutor Zia Alonto Adiong said the panel uncovered an alleged Php 111.85 million discrepancy between the Vice President’s declared income and identified bank inflows, raising questions about the sources and reporting of the funds.
The reported discrepancy is based on a comparison of approximately Php 174.96 million in identified bank inflows and Php 63.11 million in declared income from 2022 to 2025.
Adiong said the prosecution is willing to provide the BIR with the financial documents and other evidence gathered during its examination of Duterte’s financial transactions.
The panel is also scrutinizing companies associated with Carpio over alleged inconsistencies in their financial statements and recorded transactions.
According to the prosecution, these findings warrant further examination to determine whether the financial activities were properly declared and whether applicable tax obligations were met.
However, the panel emphasized that the BIR has the authority to evaluate the documents, determine whether tax laws were violated, and decide if there is sufficient basis to pursue appropriate charges.
The reported difference between declared income and bank inflows does not automatically constitute tax evasion, as bank deposits may include transfers, loans and other transactions that are not necessarily taxable income.
The planned referral comes amid continuing scrutiny of Duterte’s financial records in connection with the impeachment proceedings against her.
Duterte has denied wrongdoing, while her legal team has disputed the prosecution’s interpretation of the financial evidence.
Any potential tax case would require a separate investigation and determination by the BIR, subject to applicable laws and due process.
