Joselito Malig

The defense and House prosecution panels cross-examine Atty. Jeremy Lotoc, Regional Director of the National Bureau of Investigation–Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (NBI-BARMM) and former chief of the NBI Cybercrime Division, as he takes the stand during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on Monday, July 13, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — As the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte resumed on Monday, seats seemed harder to come by compared to the previous week.Only a small portion of the area reserved for public observers, as well as guests of the defense and the prosecution, was unoccupied when the trial began at 2 p.m.However, this did not last long.Both guests and senator-judges were seen leaving the plenary over the span of the six-hour trial, with only some returning to their seats.Some senator-judges, such as Alan Peter Cayetano and Mark Villar, left for considerably long periods before eventually returning.By 6 p.m., more seats for attendees had become vacant, with noticeable gaps becoming evident on the right side of the room.Shortly after 2 p.m., the area for special guests situated behind the prosecution and defense was packed with former congressmen and spokespersons for the prosecution.But at some point past 5 p.m., only one person—former Gabriela party-list Representative Sarah Elago—was left in the area.While the brief, mid-trial exits of the senator-judges went unexplained during the session, Senator Migz Zubiri later mentioned that he was urged by his colleagues to raise concerns over the length of the trial.“Due to the lateness of the hour, your honor, and I’m being egged by my colleagues here. We’ve been here for six hours… May we request maybe, counsel for defense or the body that we just adjourn tonight and continue tomorrow because all these details after a while– I’m sure, these gentlemen and ladies, both through their counsel, and for the prosecution has not even eaten dinner,” Zubiri said.This motion from Zubiri earned him praise from several senator-judges, with the line “Zubiri good!” heard from Senator Joel Villanueva shortly after adjournment.When asked about the senator-judges who took up to 20 minutes before returning to the session hall, Impeachment Court spokesperson Atty. Regie Tongol clarified that they are permitted to leave the floor since monitors and speakers are set up inside the Senators’ Lounge.“The senator-judges can go out of the plenary. Mayroon silang monitors at speaker doon sa Senator&#x27;s Lounge. So ‘pag nag-take ng break sila, nag-CR sila, naririnig pa rin nila ‘yung nangyayari sa floor.”Tongol added that even those who leave the floor for a period of time are still legally considered present, provided they were checked during the initial roll call.“Well, the Senate rules as a legislative body– suppletorily applicable ‘yan. So i-a-apply kung ano ‘yung ginagawa usually sa ordinary plenary session. So basta nagka-roll call na, you are already considered present. So even if you go out of the plenary, considered ka nang present for that day, for that session… Puwede rito po ma-late. Kanina po may na-late yata sa roll call,” Tongol said.Only 18 senators were recorded present at the start of Monday&#x27;s trial.Senator Francis Pangilinan was absent on Monday, along with three senator-judges who have yet to attend a single day of the trial: Senators Rodante Marcoleta, Jinggoy Estrada, and Ronald Dela Rosa.Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was among those not initially counted in the 18-member quorum, as he arrived shortly before 2:10 p.m.Senator Loren Legarda arrived much later but was spotted inside the session hall before 6 p.m.In total, 20 senators were recorded to have attended Monday&#x27;s proceedings.Following the adjournment, former Presidential Chief Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo was also spotted speaking with Senators Cayetano, Bong Go, and Robin Padilla.

As the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte resumed on Monday, seats seemed harder to come by compared to the previous week.

As the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte resumed on Monday, seats seemed harder to come by compared to the previous week.

Observers at impeachment trial dwindle as some senators leave court during 6-hour session

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Observers at impeachment trial dwindle as some senators leave court during 6-hour session

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 14, 2026 01:16 AM PHT

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Updated July 14, 2026 08:08 AM PHT

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Senate

impeachment trial

Sara Duterte

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