VP tax records sealed for now

Why House held back on opening VP Sara Duterte's tax records

A scene at the House impeachment hearing against Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, April 22, evoked memories of the trial of former president Joseph Estrada in 2001, although the circumstances are totally different. In 2001, senators were divided on whether to open the so-called “second envelope,” which was believed to contain evidence related to Estrada’s alleged “Jose Velarde” bank accounts. On present day, congressmen debated over the…

VP tax records sealed for now

Voting 21-4-0, the House committee on justice granted on Wednesday night a motion to defer the opening of income tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, keeping the documents sealed following a lengthy debate on the legal risks of publicizing them.