MANILA — Lawyer Manases Carpio, husband of Vice President Sara Duterte, has asked the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to stop the House committee on justice from obtaining and disclosing income tax returns linked to him and his family, citing privacy rights and alleged legal violations.

In a 26-page petition for injunction with an application for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and/or writ of preliminary injunction, Carpio and his lawyers challenged the subpoena issued by the House panel ordering Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Charlie Mendoza to testify and submit tax documents involving Carpio, the Vice President, and related businesses.

The petition described the subpoena as “exceedingly overstretched,” arguing that it was issued in relation to matters that allegedly fall outside Vice President Sara Duterte’s official tenure, which began on June 30, 2022.

Carpio asked the court to issue a 72-hour executive TRO and/or a 20-day TRO to stop the House committee from enforcing or implementing the subpoena dated March 31, 2026.

“A private person’s tax returns are highly confidential in nature. It embodies the private informations of a taxpayer, duly secured and guaranteed by his constitutional right to life, liberty, and property and the equal protection clause,” the petition read.

“Petitioners are constrained to invoke the judicial power of this court to stop the unconstitutional, illegal, and highly irregular subpoena of respondents [House committee on justice chairperson Gerville] Luistro and [Speaker Faustino “Bojie”] Dy [III]. Petitioners beg this court to act on this petition in deference to the rule of law, the protected privacy of petitioners and the confidentiality of tax returns,” it added.

Carpio also cited Section 2702 of the Tax Reform Act, which penalizes any BIR official or employee who unlawfully discloses taxpayer records or information.

The House committee on justice is currently handling two impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, which allege betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family, and unexplained wealth.

The committee has already found the complaints sufficient in form, substance, and grounds and is now determining probable cause.

The next House committee on justice hearing is scheduled on April 14, Tuesday.

In his petition, Carpio also asked the court to permanently block the subpoena, nullify it, and declare any information obtained through it inadmissible.

“They (tax returns) cannot expediently be released without notice to nor prior consent of the taxpayer,” the petition stated.