Senate court admits Sara Duterte’s financial records, restores gag order

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 07, 2026

Photo courtesy: Senate of the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court has admitted financial, tax, corporate and property records in the ongoing trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. It also restored restrictions on public discussions of three impeachment charges previously withdrawn by prosecutors.

Presiding Officer Francis Escudero issued the rulings on Thursday, November 5. The court announced them the following day, ahead of the trial’s resumption on November 9.

The decisions define which evidence senator-judges may consider in the remaining case involving allegations of unexplained wealth.

Court accepts financial records

The court admitted Duterte’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth (SALNs), along with records from nine banks.

It also accepted documents from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other admitted evidence includes land titles, insurance policies, investment records and documents involving Duterte’s husband, lawyer Manases Carpio.

The records will help the court examine the Vice President’s financial declarations and transactions under Article II of the impeachment complaint.

However, the court placed limits on how prosecutors may use older documents.

Records dating from 2007 to 2021 may establish Duterte’s financial position before she assumed the vice presidency on June 30, 2022.

Prosecutors cannot use those documents to establish separate offenses allegedly committed before her current term.

Admission does not prove allegations

The court rejected the defense’s general objection that documents obtained through subpoenas amounted to a “fishing expedition.”

It also ruled that prosecutors could present relevant documents even if they were not attached to the original impeachment complaint.

However, the court stressed that accepting evidence does not establish the truth of the allegations.

According to court spokesperson Reginald Tongol, senator-judges must still assess the reliability and importance of each document.

The court will determine whether the evidence sufficiently supports Article II after considering both the prosecution and defense.

Meanwhile, the court excluded records connected to impeachment charges that prosecutors had withdrawn.

These include Commission on Audit documents involving confidential fund disallowances under Article I.

It also rejected corporate records and related financial calculations involving JTC Group of Companies Philippines Inc. and Pikimong Pikimong Philippines Corporation.

The court found those materials unrelated to the remaining charge.

Gag order restored across all impeachment charges

In a separate ruling, the impeachment court reinstated restrictions on public discussions of all four impeachment articles.

The decision covers Articles I, III and IV, even though prosecutors withdrew those charges on October 13.

The court had previously relaxed the restrictions on the withdrawn articles. However, the defense argued that public discussions could affect Duterte’s right to a fair trial.

On November 4, Duterte informed the court that she was not waiving the protection of the sub judice rule.

The rule prohibits covered parties, lawyers and senator-judges from publicly discussing the merits of the impeachment case while proceedings continue.

The court said the restriction applies equally to withdrawn and pending impeachment articles.

Violations may result in penalties under the impeachment court’s existing guidelines.

Court protects confidential financial information

The impeachment court also imposed safeguards on sensitive documents admitted into evidence.

It prohibited the unauthorized publication or distribution of protected banking, tax and AMLC records.

The restrictions also cover foreign-currency information and other confidential personal data.

Only disclosures permitted under applicable laws and court orders may proceed.

Defense to present evidence on November 9

The prosecution has formally rested its case after pursuing Article II, the sole remaining impeachment charge.

The article alleges that Duterte accumulated unexplained wealth and failed to comply with constitutional requirements involving financial disclosures and business interests.

These allegations remain subject to the impeachment court’s determination.

The defense may use documents already admitted into the official record without presenting them again.

The trial will resume on Monday, November 9, at 10 a.m., when Duterte’s defense team is scheduled to begin presenting its evidence.