Palace: Marcos approval to release Duterte BIR records ‘not political’
MANILA, Philippines — Palace press officer Claire Castro stated on Thursday that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s approval for the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to turn over Vice President Sara Duterte’s tax records to the Senate impeachment court complies with the law and is free of political motivation.
The documents feature the tax records of Duterte, her spouse Mans Carpio, and additional businesses reportedly connected to the couple.
“Kung ano ang sinasabi ng batas, kung ano ang proseso, susunod po ang Pangulo. So kung ‘yan ang sinasabi po at kinakailangan na magbigay siya ng approval sa BIR para mabuksan ang tax records nila VP Sara at ni Atty. Mans Carpio at ito naman ay para sa katotohanan. Hindi niya po ipagkakait ang katotohanan sa ating mga kababayan,” she explained.
(The President will abide by what the law dictates and the established processes. So, if the law requires him to grant approval to the BIR to open the tax records of VP Sara and Atty. Mans Carpio—and this is done in the interest of truth—he will not withhold the truth from the Filipino people.)
Castro acknowledged that Marcos’ approval could set a precedent, allowing future presidents facing impeachment to block the release of their own tax records.
However, she maintained that Marcos’ decision was intended to help uncover the truth surrounding Duterte’s impeachment trial.
“Hindi po magiging hadlang si Pangulong Marcos Jr. sa paglabas ng katotohanan,” she said.
(President Marcos Jr. will not stand in the way of the truth.)
She also took the lead in commenting on allegations that it was politically motivated.
“Sa lahat naman ng pagkakataon kapag ang Pangulo ay gumagawa ng naayon sa batas pero mayroong tinatamaan, laging sasabihin nila politicaly motivated. So saan pupunta, saan gagawi ang Pangulo?” she said.
(Whenever the President acts in accordance with the law but affects certain people, they always claim it is politically motivated. So, what’s the President supposed to do?)
“Kahit ano pang sabihin ng iba basta ang alam ng Pangulo siya ay tumutupad sa proseso, siya ay tumutupad sa batas, kahit siya pa ay paringgan o bigyan ng negatibong impresyon hindi matitinag ang Pangulo,” Castro continued.
(No matter what others say, as long as the President knows he is adhering to the process and the law, he remains undeterred — even in the face of snide remarks or attempts to cast him in a negative light.)
The BIR earlier confirmed to the INQUIRER that it has already secured authorization from Marcos to produce the records.
BIR representatives submitted the records to the Office of the Clerk of Court before the 9 a.m. deadline set by the impeachment court. /gsg
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