Manases Carpio, the husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, said the release of his tax records is not evidence of guilt.
The statement comes as the Senate impeachment court in Manila continues its proceedings. Because the documents were requested as part of the court's procedural requirements, the submission is a legal necessity rather than an admission of wrongdoing.
Carpio addressed the matter on Aug. 1, 2026 [1], clarifying the nature of the disclosure. He said the action was a direct result of an order from the Senate impeachment court.
"The submission of tax records is merely a procedural step ordered by the Senate impeachment court and not an evidence of guilt," Carpio said [1].
The process of submitting financial records is often a standard requirement in high-level impeachment proceedings to ensure transparency, and verify assets. In this case, the court ordered the submission to fulfill its specific procedural mandates [1], [2].
Carpio's response aims to decouple the act of compliance with the court from any implication of criminal liability. By framing the disclosure as a mandate, he emphasizes that the court's request for documentation is a routine part of the legal process rather than a discovery of incriminating evidence [1], [2].
“The submission of tax records is merely a procedural step”
This development underscores the tension between legal transparency and political optics during an impeachment process. By emphasizing that the disclosure is a procedural mandate, Carpio is attempting to prevent the public and political opponents from interpreting a standard legal requirement as a sign of culpability.
