Jamaine Punzalan

Vice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference on February 7, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

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20250207-sara duterte-impeachment-presscon

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174235287801420250207-vp-duterte-presscon-impeachment-MT-17.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference on February 7, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The prosecution team has started practicing for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said Wednesday.</p><p>“Kahapon po, I was informed na nagkaroon na sila (prosecutors) ng mock trial,” Velasco said.</p><p>“Ginagawa ho lahat ito ng mga abogado prior to the trial…para makita nila ang actual flow ng deliberations, testimonies during po the actual trial,” he told TeleRadyo Serbisyo.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/14/senators-start-fitting-robes-for-vp-sara-impeachment-trial-cayetano-1528">Senators start fitting robes for VP Sara impeachment trial</a></div><p>Duterte is facing a Senate trial on charges of &quot;violation of the constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption and other high crimes&quot;.</p><p>Sixteen votes in the 24-seat Senate are needed to deliver a conviction that would bar her from public office, including a presidential run she says she is &quot;seriously considering&quot;.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/9/in-speech-before-pinoys-in-hk-sara-duterte-hints-at-2028-presidential-bid-2052">In speech before Pinoys in Hong Kong, VP Sara Duterte hints at 2028 presidential bid</a></div><p>About 2 or 3 prosecutors are assigned for each of the 7 articles of impeachment against Duterte, Velasco noted.  </p><p>“There will be private prosecutors involved,” he said. “Pwede rin po namin yung mga former congressman o former senators na abogado po, makakatulong po &#x27;yan.”</p><p>“Kailangan po nila ng may mga experience sa trial at magaling na researchers,” the official added.</p><p>Two private lawyers are helping senators prepare the impeachment trial, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr said. </p><p>&quot;Right now, we have two regulars who have been helping us get refreshed sa Rules of Court, especially sa mga latest rules on trial procedure,&quot; he said. </p><p>House Speaker Martin Romualdez said the prosecution team was prepared to present their case as soon as the impeachment court is convened.</p><p>“Ang report sa akin ng mga House prosecutors, handa na sila na mag-present ng kaso anomang oras buksan ang Impeachment Court,” he said in a press release.  </p><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAEyze-tm4MR6kEa&amp;cid=ABVxIWTK_O_v_OV0"></script><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/17/vp-saras-impeachment-trial-wont-be-affected-by-ex-pres-dutertes-icc-trial-escudero-1608">VP Sara&#x27;s impeachment trial won&#x27;t be affected by ex-Pres. Duterte&#x27;s ICC trial: Escudero</a></div><p><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/27/escudero-timetable-sees-vp-duterte-impeachment-trial-starting-on-july-30-1419">Duterte’s impeachment trial may begin on July 30</a>, according to a timetable proposed by Senate President Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero, who also said House prosecutors could present the article of impeachment to the Senate when Congress returns from break on June 2.</p><p>“Sa June 2 po, ang sinabi sa aming plano -- plano lang po ito ng ating mga senador -- they will approve it sa plenary, yung new impeachment rules… There might be some additional amendments na kailanga pong aprubahan sa rules of impeachment that will govern the trial proper itself,” Velasco said.</p><p>“Pag na-approve po yun, magkakaroon ng oathtaking sila as incoming judges, senator-judges,” he added.</p><p>Velasco on Tuesday <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/18/house-secgen-inspects-senate-ahead-of-sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-1630">inspected the Senate premises</a> that would be allocated to the prosecution team.</p><p>“We will continue to work closely with the Senate to ensure a fair, transparent, and credible impeachment trial,” Romualdez said.</p><div><iframe width="1101" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pra3qwkhxko" title="House SecGen inspects Senate ahead of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Duterte and a group of lawyers have filed separate petitions at the Supreme Cour to challenge her impeachment, which they said had been unconstitutionally rushed through without proper oversight.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/19/sara-duterte-challenges-her-impeachment-at-supreme-court-1053">Sara Duterte seeks to block her impeachment trial</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/18/group-of-lawyers-challenge-sara-duterte-s-impeachment-at-supreme-court-1109">Supreme Court asked to halt Sara Duterte’s ‘defective’ impeachment</a></div><p>&quot;There was no proper deliberation. There was no proper discussion,&quot; lawyer and petitioner Israelito Torreon said in February.</p><p>&quot;The VP was not even summoned to answer for the alleged allegations ... so there was no due process at all.&quot;</p><p>The allegations against Duterte include an alleged assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p><p>Duterte has insisted that the assassination charge, stemming from an expletive-laden broadcast in which she claimed to have instructed a man to kill Marcos were she to be killed first, was simply venting frustration with the administration.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/8/house-members-dispute-vp-sara-s-denial-of-threatening-marcos-family-1249">House members dispute VP Sara&#x27;s denial of threatening Marcos, family</a></div><p>Her office’s use of confidential funds was also among the articles of impeachment filed by the House of Representatives before the Senate. Duterte had denied allegations of corruption and fund misuse, saying the claims were part of political persecution.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/17/receipts-signed-by-jay-kamote-miggy-mango-may-be-used-as-add-l-evidence-vs-vp-duterte-1848">Receipts signed by &#x27;Jay Kamote,&#x27; &#x27;Miggy Mango&#x27; may be used as add&#x27;l evidence vs VP Duterte</a></div><div><strong>— With reports from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News; Agence France-Presse </strong></div><div><iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IEJa85WqZmU" title="Outside ICC, VP Duterte urges Filipinos not to forget &#x27;real issues&#x27; in the country | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> <iframe width="1100" height="619" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fN_pO-Eif_M" title="Marcos denies involvement in impeachment of VP Sara Duterte | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The prosecution panel has started practicing for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said Wednesday.</p>

The prosecution panel has started practicing for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said Wednesday.

Prosecutors hold Sara Duterte mock impeachment trial: House SecGen

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Prosecutors hold Sara Duterte mock impeachment trial: House SecGen

Jamaine Punzalan,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 19, 2025 11:11 AM PHT

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Updated March 19, 2025 01:16 PM PHT

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