MANILA, Philippines – The Senate impeachment court began sending subpoenas to six banks, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), and the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) on Wednesday for Vice President Sara Duterte’ financial records, as Day 9 proceedings wrapped up Article IV testimony and presentation of evidence.
The court ordered BIR, AMLC and six banking institutions to produce the financial records of Vice President Sara Duterte, her husband Manases Carpio, and businesses allegedly linked to them. The banks named in the subpoenas are Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., Philippine Savings Bank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Security Bank Corp., LandBank of the Philippines, and BDO Unibank.
READ: Highlights: Day 8 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial \| July 22, 2026
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The subpoenas came as the trial entered its ninth day, with the defense completing its cross-examination of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag, the prosecution’s final witness on Article IV covering Duterte’s alleged grave threats against President Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The prosecution concluded its nine-day presentation of Article IV, having used six of its allotted eleven days for the article itself, with the remaining days spent on other matters.
On the witness stand, Matibag told senator-judges that the search for Duterte’s alleged assassin had been narrowed to fewer than 20 individuals, adding that the bureau was finally getting close to identifying the individual or individuals involved.
The day also produced procedural friction and lighter moments.
Defense counsel Mark Vinluan and lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro clashed over whether the House committee on justice proceedings constituted a mini trial, with Luistro insisting they were only clarificatory hearings.
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Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo publicly complained that senator-judges “waste time” lecturing lawyers instead of focusing on evidence.
In one of the day’s lighter moments, Matibag himself raised an objection typically made by opposing counsel during Vinluan’s questioning, prompting a reminder from the court that rulings are reserved for the senator-judges.
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Outside the court
Prosecutor Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong clarified separately that identifying the alleged hitman is a matter for a separate criminal investigation and is not a condition needed to complete the evidence for Article IV in the constitutional case.
Rep. Robert Ace Barbers added that the House panel would consider all possible legal actions against Duterte after the impeachment trial, depending on what the NBI investigation yields.
A separate controversy arose over a July 7 letter from Duterte to Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian requesting that the Senate shoulder catering costs sourced from the OVP’s accredited caterer during the trial.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson confirmed the OVP made the request, while defense spokesman Michael Poa said no such arrangement appeared to have been granted.
House Deputy Speaker Janette Garin called the request to have the Senate cover the costs improper, funny.
Meanwhile, Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. criticized Duterte for conducting a five-country personal trip while the trial is ongoing, calling the travel a “betrayal of public trust.” [10]
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Sources
- Garin: VP Duterte requesting Senate to cover meal cost ‘improper, funny’
- Only threat, not ‘hitman,’ matters in VP Senate trial – prosecutor
- Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial: Article IV highlights
- Lacson confirms OVP request; Poa says Senate isn’t paying
- Defense, prosec in impeachment trial clash anew over term ‘mini trial’
- NBI probe may prompt legal action vs Sara Duterte – Ace Barbers
- NBI: Search for Duterte’s alleged hitman down to fewer than 20
- Matibag reminded: Leave rulings to Senate impeachment court
- Doubts erased about gravity of VP Duterte’s kill threats – Tolosa
- Solon: Sara Duterte foreign trip amid trial ‘betrayal of public trust’
- Impeachment court serves subpoenas for Sara Duterte’s financial records
- Erwin Tulfo: Senator-judges ‘waste time’ lecturing defense, prosec
Editor’s note: This update was generated with the aid of artificial intelligence based on Inquirer.net, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Cebu Daily News articles and reviewed by a human editor.