Marilyn Cahatol

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

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VP Sara Impeachment

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/178402999835920260713-senate-vp-sara-impeachment-day4-MT8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">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. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The prosecution will no longer present Zuleika Lopez and Belinda Bello in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.</p><p>Lopez, Duterte’s chief of staff, and Bello, executive director of the Legislative Security Bureau, Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives, were supposed to be the third and fourth witnesses to be presented by the prosecution.</p><p>&quot;We find it totally unnecessary, redundant and a surplusage to still present Atty. Zuleika Lopez and Capt. Belinda Bello,&quot; Atty. Lorna Kapunan, counsel for the prosecutors, said on Tuesday.</p><p>She explained that Lopez was supposed to confirm the authenticity of the Nov. 23, 2024 video where Duterte uttered the alleged “grave threat” against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and former House speaker Martin Romualdez.</p><p>“Totally unnecessary because <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/8/duterte-defense-team-presents-clips-of-emotional-zuleika-lopez-from-november-2024-video-1603">the defense themselves used the very same video,</a> said exhibit in their defense when they showed Atty. Zuleika crying and allegedly complaining about the violation of her human rights,” Kapunan said.</p><p>She added that Bello is supposed to corroborate the existence of the House’s transfer order for Lopez, and that it was the subject of the November press conference.</p><p>Trial presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero said that the Wednesday hearing will cover the oral arguments for the prosecution’s request for subpoenas for the bank and Anti-Money Laundering Council records of Duterte and his husband, Atty. Manases Carpio.</p><p>The court will also tackle the prosecution&#x27;s requested subpoena for the couple’s records from the Bureau of Internal Revenue, which the court previously <a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/impeachment-court-summons-nbi-agents-sends-back-bir-box-1818">returned to the bureau sealed.</a></p><p>The prosecution will present its next witness, National Bureau of Investigation Director <a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/13/impeachment-court-tables-prosecution-s-request-for-matibag-to-appear-on-tuesday-1514">Melvin Matibag</a>, on Monday, July 20.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WATCH</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iVlGJrfvFXM?si=fZDYhjU5LPDhCBBX" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The prosecution will no longer present Zuleika Lopez and Belinda Bello in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.</p>

The prosecution will no longer present Zuleika Lopez and Belinda Bello in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Prosecution to no longer present Lopez, Bello in impeachment trial

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Prosecution to no longer present Lopez, Bello in impeachment trial

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 14, 2026 08:23 PM PHT

|

Updated July 14, 2026 09:47 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

impeachment trial

Zuleika Lopez

Belinda Lopez

Duterte impeachment

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