Sara Duterte impeachment trial Day 36: BIR witness reveals P85M income

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The annual income tax returns of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, were finally opened on Day 36 of her impeachment trial—the shortest trial day so far.

Private prosecutor Erwin Matib, who was scheduled to conduct direct examination of the prosecution's witness from the Breau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Atty. Anne Marquez, called in sick at the 11th hour.

The prosecution tried to remedy the situation by offering to present another witness, financial analyst and tax expert Alex Cabrera.

This was, however, opposed by the defense lead counsel, Sheila Sison, arguing that last-minute switching of witnesses won’t be fair to the respondent Vice President.

This prompted the Senate impeachment court to suspend the trial from 10:42 pm until 2:30 pm.

When it resumed, Matib showed up and conducted his cross-examination of Marquez, paving the way for the revelation of the Vice President and her husband's tax returns for the very first time.

Marquez then testified that the Vice President and her husband recorded P85.3 million worth of income from 2007 to 2025.

In addition, the BIR official told the Senate impeachment court that Vice President Sara Duterte reported P1.058 million in “other income” on top of her compensation income in 2024, and another P1.082 million in 2025.

The BIR official also said that the Vice President received compensation income from Davao City government in 2023, and that the BIR already issued a Letter of Authority to the Vice President and her husband.

The BIR defines the Letter of Authority (LOA) as “BIR's primary legal document that authorizes revenue officers to examine a taxpayer's books and records” and “a document that grants the Commissioner the authority to conduct audits based on a clear legal foundation, with proper identification of the examiner and adherence to due process.”

In a later press conference, private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa, Jr. said such P85 million in income cannot account for the couple's P98 million declared net worth as of 2025.

Mans’ links to Cale88 still exist

Marquez also told the Senate impeachment court that based on BIR database, there are no records arising from or in connection with any transfer, sale, disposition, or other conveyance of shares of stock of Kale 88 Foods Corporation owned by Atty. Carpio, the husband of the Vice President.

“In relation thereto, no documents or records were found evidencing the payment, assessment, or settlement of any applicable taxes, fees, or other charges arising from or in connection with such transfer or disposition,” Marquez said.

Cale88 Foods Corporation is a declared asset of the Vice President’s husband in multiple years, but was removed as one in their joint SALN filing in 2025.

Defense counsel Kristine Ferrer was able to start her cross-examination on Thursday, but she asked that she be allowed to stop at 6 pm and continue it tomorrow since she will take approximately two more hours.