Marilyn Cahatol

The House prosecution panel address the media following the second pre-trial proceedings of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines on June 22, 2026. The panel provided updates on the day’s developments and outlined the next steps in the impeachment process. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP SARA IMPEACHMENT- PROSECUTION

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178212115142620260622-vp-sara-impeachment-prosecution-presscon-MT3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The House prosecution panel address the media following the second pre-trial proceedings of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines on June 22, 2026. The panel provided updates on the day’s developments and outlined the next steps in the impeachment process. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The House prosecution has asked the Senate impeachment court to require the camp of Vice President Sara Duterte to “specify” the purpose of their witnesses.</p><p>This was among the prayers in the Compliance and Manifestation with Request for Specification, which the panel filed on Monday.</p><p>&quot;It appears now that sila ngayon ang nagfi-fishing expedition… The court does not exactly know what would be the purpose by which they are to be treated as hostile witness. So we want to know exactly kung ano ‘yung magiging purpose nila sa Defense,” House Impeachment Trial Spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said. </p><p>“If you have there general denial lang or general purpose lang ng adopted witnesses mo from the other side, that would indicate to you na talagang hindi lang wala silang mai-provide, but actually using this as tactical maneuvering to delay further itong impeachment proceedings… which the house prosecution does not want,” he added.</p><p>&quot;Ayaw natin sayangin ang oras ng impeachment court. Ayaw natin sayangin ang oras ng taumbayan… Gusto natin… maging efficient ang daloy ng proceedings,” House impeachment trial spokesperson Rep. Renee Co also said.</p><p>Witnesses cannot be called without proper justification, House Impeachment Legal Spokesperson Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr. added.</p><div><a href="http://Drilon urges senators: Put country first in Sara Duterte impeachment trial">Drilon urges senators: Put country first in Sara Duterte impeachment trial</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>REQUESTED TRIAL DATES</strong></div><div> </div><p>The House prosecution sought 62 trial dates, while Duterte’s camp asked for 30 trial dates, according to Tolosa.</p><p>The Senate impeachment court will have the “final say” on the number of trial dates it will grant the camps in order to present their evidence and witnesses.</p><p>The House prosecution and the defense have 51 common witnesses, according to Tolosa, citing the list submitted in their pre-trial briefs. He said that of this number, 16 are named and 35 are unnamed.</p><p>Duterte’s camp listed 97 witnesses in its pre-trial brief, while the House prosecution listed 57, Tolosa added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/22/pre-trial-conference-on-sara-duterte-impeachment-case-resumes-1249">Pre-trial conference on Sara Duterte impeachment case resumes</a></div><p>“How come they listed 97 witnesses but they only asked for 30 trial dates? Maybe it is an indication that there&#x27;s really no intention to produce all of those witnesses,” he said.</p><p>The prosecution and the defense also have 248 common exhibits, according to Tolosa. This is majority of the 276 exhibits of the prosecution.</p><p>Due to the number of witnesses, Lead House Impeachment Prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro believes it may not be possible for the impeachment trial to be completed by September.</p><div> </div><div><strong>SEQUENCE OF PRESENTATION</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The House prosecution also manifested before the Senate impeachment court the sequence by which it intends to present the four Articles of Impeachment against Duterte.</p><p>Adiong said they proposed to present first Article 4 alleging grave threats, followed by Article 1 alleging confidential fund misuse, then Article 3 on alleged bribery, and finally, Article 2 on alleged unexplained wealth.</p><p>“It would be also part of the strategy… which is easier for the public to understand,” Adiong said</p><p>“For the grave threats, that’s the least contentious article, at least with respect to the facts. So inaasahan namin, mas mabilis ang pag-presenta ng ebidensya dyan… All of us watched those footages, where those subject utterances were made. For the other articles, we will also be presenting hostile witnesses, so we will have to ask the court to issue subpoena, to command those persons to appear before the court,” Tolosa added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/18/gatchalian-senate-to-still-discuss-presiding-officer-of-vp-duterte-trial-1113">Gatchalian clarifies Senate to discuss presiding officer for Sara Duterte impeachment trial</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1R3bKOhO6QU?si=Sj1c3IuzVrvfbYp1" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The House prosecution has asked the Senate impeachment court to require the camp of Vice President Sara Duterte to “specify” the purpose of their witnesses.</p>

The House prosecution has asked the Senate impeachment court to require the camp of Vice President Sara Duterte to “specify” the purpose of their witnesses.

House prosecution asks impeachment court to require Duterte’s camp to 'specify' purpose of witnesses

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

House prosecution asks impeachment court to require Duterte’s camp to 'specify' purpose of witnesses

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 22, 2026 05:47 PM PHT

Read More:

House of Representatives

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.