Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson on Sunday said he cannot support the unsealing of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) “green box” containing Vice President Sara Duterte’s tax records without the President’s written authority as required under the law.
Lacson said he cannot take part in any action that would violate Sections 71 and 270 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) and established Supreme Court jurisprudence, as he stressed even the Impeachment Court trying the Vice President’s case is not above the law.
“If it is ‘forcibly’ unsealed without the written authority of the President, I will vote against it. That will be my personal vote, because I do not want to be blamed in the future for taking part in violating the law,” he said in English and Filipino in an interview on DZBB radio.
“My position is clear. Without the written authority of the President, I cannot support the unsealing. I am not favoring the defense. I am invoking the law and that is clear,” he added.
In Filipino: Lacson: Hindi Maaaring Suportahan ang Pagbubukas ng BIR ‘Green Box’ Nang Walang Written Authorization Ayon sa Batas
When asked if the President’s approval might be perceived as reflecting his political stance on the Vice President’s impeachment, Lacson said that is not his or the Impeachment Court’s concern.
“That is not my concern and that should not be the concern of the Court. What matters is that there is a law and we must follow it. That’s why we have the Rule of Law,” he said.
The Impeachment Court is to hear this week the oral arguments on the requested subpoenas for records of the BIR, Anti-Money Laundering Council, and banks.
Earlier, Lacson said the disposition of the Vice President’s income tax return (ITR) records must be governed solely by the law and existing jurisprudence.
He stressed that the Impeachment Court should allow the unsealing of the records only if the legal requirements – including the President’s written authority under Sec. 71 of the NIRC – are met.
“Even if we are an Impeachment Court, we cannot be above the law,” he said.
*****
Lacson: Hindi Maaaring Suportahan ang Pagbubukas ng BIR ‘Green Box’ Nang Walang Written Authorization Ayon sa Batas
Hindi maaaring suportahan ni Senator-Judge Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson ang pagbubukas ng “green box” ng Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) na naglalaman ng mga tax record ni Vice President Sara Duterte kung wala ang nakasulat na awtorisasyon ng Pangulo, alinsunod sa itinatakda ng batas.
Ani Lacson, hindi siya maaaring makibahagi sa anumang hakbang na lalabag sa Sections 71 at 270 ng National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) at sa umiiral na jurisprudence ng Korte Suprema. Binigyang-diin din niya na maging ang Impeachment Court ay hindi maaaring lumabag sa batas.
“Kung pilit i-unseal without written authority of the President, I will vote against it. That will be my personal vote na gagawin. Kasi ayokong masisi balang araw na part ako ng nag-violate ng batas,” aniya sa panayam sa DZBB radio nitong Linggo.
“Sa akin, malinaw ang aking position na without the written authority from the President, hindi dapat pabuksan. Di ako pro-defense dito. Basta sa akin ini-invoke ko dito ang batas. Maliwanag,” dagdag niya.
Nang tanungin kung maaaring ituring na pagpapakita ng pampulitikang paninindigan ng Pangulo sa impeachment ng Bise Presidente ang pagbibigay nito ng awtorisasyon, sinabi ni Lacson na hindi iyon ang dapat alalahanin ng Impeachment Court.
“That is not my concern. That should not be the concern of the Court. Bahala sila doon, basta sa amin may batas, sundin namin ang batas. Kaya may Rule of Law,” aniya.
Nakatakdang dinggin ng Impeachment Court ngayong linggo ang oral arguments kaugnay ng hiling na magpalabas ng subpoena para sa mga rekord mula sa BIR, Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), at mga bangko.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Lacson na ang paghawak sa income tax return (ITR) records ng Bise Presidente ay dapat nakabatay lamang sa batas at sa umiiral na jurisprudence.
Binigyang-diin niya na dapat lamang payagan ng Impeachment Court ang pagbubukas ng mga rekord kung natugunan ang lahat ng rekisitos ng batas, kabilang ang nakasulat na awtorisasyon ng Pangulo sa ilalim ng Section 71 ng NIRC.
“Maski korte kami, hindi kami pwedeng lumabag sa batas kasi magiging questionable,” aniya.
*****