BIR witness: LOA issued to audit tax records of Sara Duterte or Mans Carpio

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The Bureau of Internal Revenue has issued a letter of authority (LOA) for the audit of the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, an official of the BIR told the impeachment court on Thursday.

Atty. Anne Lorraine Garcia-Marquez, the chief of staff of the Office of the BIR Commissioner, answered yes when asked by presiding officer Senator-Judge Francis "Chiz" Escudero if an LOA was issued for either Duterte or Carpio.

GMA News Online is getting a comment from the Vice President's camp and will publish it as soon as it is available.

Marquez told the impeachment court that based on tax records, Duterte received compensation income from the Davao City government in 2023, when she was already Vice President.

The prosecution had the witness read the provision of the Constitution that prohibited the Vice President, during her incumbency, from receiving any other compensation aside from her salary as the second highest elected official of the country.

Escudero asked the BIR official if she was in a position to determine if income was lawful or not, and whether the BIR could go beyond what had been filed if there was no audit.

"We have to issue a Letter of Authority to conduct an audit to determine whether or not proper taxes are paid," Marquez said.

Or if the income is legal or illegal? "Yes, Your Honor," Marquez said.

Escudero asked if the BIR issued an LOA "against either the Vice President or her spouse."

"Yes, Your Honor," Marquez said.

“We can only state whether or not we issued an LOA, not the details. But as to the details po, it is confidential so I cannot disclose it in this court,” the BIR official added.

According to the BIR, the LOA is the bureau's primary legal document that authorizes revenue officers to examine a taxpayer's books and records.

It 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. —NB, GMA News