House panel defers opening of box containing VP Sara's tax records amid legal questions

NEWS UPDATE: House justice committee votes to set aside the issue on whether to open the box submitted by the BIR containing the tax records of VP Sara Duterte and her husband Mans Carpio.

The panel has been discussing the matter for more than half an hour, amid questions on whether opening the box would violate the National Internal Revenue Code.

The BIR takes the position that the box can only be opened during an executive session when the House is conducting an inquiry in aid of legislation. Lawmakers, however, are divided whether the impeachment hearing falls under that classification. @here

VP Sara denies Trillanes claims, uses 'maleta' vs Marcos, lawmakers

Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday, April 23, rejected allegations by former senator Antonio Trillanes IV of undisclosed billions in bank accounts, calling them baseless and politically motivated.

She accused the Marcos administration and members of Congress of corruption, alleging they stash illicit funds in “maleta” and are using state institutions to mount a coordinated campaign against her after she left the Cabinet and refused to sign a national budget.

Photos from Inday Sara Duterte/Facebook

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ROMUALDEZ SEEKS TO BLOCK OMBUDSMAN REMULLA FROM INVESTIGATING HIM
The camp of former House speaker Martin Romualdez asks Ombudsman Boying Remulla's office to inhibit from any flood control probe that may be triggered by the filing of any complaint against the congressman.
Romualdez's lawyers say public statements by Remulla and Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano show they have already determined their client to be guilty of plunder "even before any case has been filed and while it is still performing investigatory duties."
So which body should investigate? Romualdez's lawyers say it should be "an independent and impartial body or officer who can conduct the proceedings free from any cloud of bias or prejudgment." @here

Hello, @here: Do we at least have assurances that Co is still in the Czech Republic? No guarantees, says the DOJ. Read more here: rplr.co/ZaldyCoWhereabouts