QUEZON CITY, Philippines — A movement within the House of Representatives to subpoena the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte has reportedly stalled, lawmakers behind the push admitted they currently lack the necessary numbers to pass a formal resolution in the plenary.
The effort, spearheaded by members of the “Young Guns” bloc and some minority lawmakers, aimed to scrutinize the Vice President’s financial history in relation to the ongoing investigation into the use of confidential and intelligence funds (CIF).
Despite months of heated debates regarding the OVP’s budget, the legislative push faced significant roadblocks:
- Lack of Consensus: While critics have been vocal, a large portion of the House remains hesitant to set a precedent of opening the private tax records of the country’s second-highest official without a clear criminal indictment.
- Duterte Bloc Support: Allies of the Vice President within the House, though fewer than in previous years, have successfully lobbied colleagues to view the move as “politically motivated” and a “violation of privacy rights.”
- Focus Shift: Some lawmakers have argued that the House should focus on the 2027 National Budget preparations rather than pursuing a “divisive” transparency measure that is likely to be challenged in the Supreme Court.
The demand for tax records stems from the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s probe into the P125 million in confidential funds spent by the OVP in late 2022.
- The Argument for Opening: Proponents argue that comparing the Vice President’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) with her tax filings is necessary to ensure there is no “unexplained wealth” or commingling of public and private funds.
- The Argument Against: Opponents maintain that the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) already has oversight and that the House’s power of inquiry should not extend to “fishing expeditions” into private financial documents.
Even if the votes were secured, legal experts noted that the process would face immediate challenges:
- Bank Secrecy & Privacy: Philippine laws regarding tax privacy are stringent. A House subpoena for tax records typically requires a strong showing that the documents are indispensable to a specific legislative purpose.
- Executive Privilege: There is an ongoing debate as to whether the Vice President can invoke executive privilege to shield certain financial documents related to her office’s operations.
While the current attempt has failed to gain traction, the “Young Guns” bloc signaled that they are not dropping the issue entirely.
“We may not have the numbers today, but the public demand for transparency isn’t going away. We will continue to seek other avenues to ensure that every centavo of the people’s money is accounted for.” — Statement from a leading proponent of the resolution
As the 2028 election cycle begins to loom in the political periphery, the battle over the Vice President’s transparency records is expected to remain a central flashpoint in the “Manila-Davao” political rift.