Palace tells Mans Carpio: Don't fear release of tax records if there's nothing to hide

Palace Press Officer Usec. Claire Castro on Friday said that it is the right of Atty. Manases “Mans” Carpio to seek legal action following the release of his and his wife, Vice President Sara Duterte’s, tax records, but reminded him not to be afraid of anything if there is nothing to hide.

To recall, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. gave clearance to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) to submit the tax records of Duterte and Carpio to the Senate impeachment court.

Carpio on Friday said legal issues surrounding the authorization to release his and his wife’s income tax records should be resolved through the proper judicial process, even as they continue to comply with the Senate impeachment court’s orders.

“Kung siya po ay may isyu patungkol po dito, karapatan naman po niya na magsampa ng anumang aksyon at tingnan lang po natin kung ano ang magiging resulta nito. Karapatan niya po ‘yan,” Castro said in a video message.

(If he has an issue regarding this, it is his right to file whatever legal action he deems appropriate, and let’s just see what the outcome will be. That’s his right.)

She also maintained that the President is only adhering to the law and processes in the pursuit of the truth.

The Palace official also told Carpio that if there are no anomalies in their records, he should instead be proud that their money is “clean.”

“Pero tandaan natin, kung wala ka naman nililihim at wala namang makikitang anomalya sa mga records na pinabubuksan, hindi kailangan matakot. Dapat maging proud pa kayo na itong kita ninyo ay galing sa malinis,” Castro said.

(But let's remember, if you're not hiding anything and there are no anomalies in the records that will be opened, there's no need to be afraid. You should be proud that your income comes from clean sources.)

Carpio said his legal team believes there is no indication that the BIR has issued any tax assessment or determination of tax deficiency against either him or Duterte.

He also questioned whether the procedural requirements and recommendations required under the applicable legal framework had been complied with before the authorization for the release of the records was issued.

Carpio said these issues should be settled through the proper constitutional and judicial processes rather than through public debate.

Carpio’s legal representatives also earlier filed the complaints against some lawmakers over alleged violations of the Anti-Money Laundering Law, Bank Secrecy Law, and Data Privacy Act of 2012, before the Quezon City Prosecutor's Office.