Marcos to study request to open VP Sara's tax records

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will review and determine the appropriate course of action should he receive a request to open the “green box” containing the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said on Monday.

Castro made the remarks after Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson said in a radio interview over the weekend that he would vote against any move to “forcibly” unseal the box without the President’s written authority.

READ: Lacson’s reminder: Marcos’ OK needed to open BIR box of VP’s tax records

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Lacson stressed that he could not support the unsealing of the box without written authorization from Marcos.

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When asked whether the president had already received a request to open the so-called green box, Castro said no such request had been submitted.

“Once their request is received, it will be carefully reviewed, and we will determine what action the President will take,” Castro said.

READ: Impeachment court returns Sara Duterte’s alleged tax records to BIR

“From the public’s perspective—not just ours, and not only those of us here in the press briefing room—we all understand how important documents can be in shedding light on the truth behind these issues. Therefore, all documents, particularly legitimate ones, are important in establishing the truth.”

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In an interview with dzBB on Sunday, Lacson said he would not participate in any action involving the “green box” that would violate Sections 71 and 270 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC), as well as established Supreme Court jurisprudence, stressing that the impeachment court is not above the law.

Section 71 states that income tax returns (ITRs) “shall constitute public records and be open to inspection as such upon the order of the President of the Philippines, under rules and regulations to be presented by the Secretary of Finance, upon recommendation of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue.”

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Section 270, on the other hand, imposes penalties on BIR personnel who disclose information collected from taxpayers, including trade secrets and other confidential information./dp

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