Camille Naredo

Presiding officer Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero during the third day of the impeachment trial on Wednesday, July 8. Voltaire F. Domingo,  Senate Social Media Unit

The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte cross-examines the first witness presented by the House prosecution panel during the third day of the impeachment trial on Wednesday, July 8. The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, resumed its hearing on Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which covers the alleged grave threats by the vice president against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, who reviewed the video cited by the prosecution in support of its allegations, returns to the witness stand to respond to questions from defense lawyers. The trial has been adjourned until 2:00 p.m. on Monday, July 13, when the House prosecution panel is expected to present its second witness, Atty. Jeremy Lontoc.
Voltaire F. Domingo,  Senate Social Media Unit

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Johnson Manabat

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/178404564065720260709-senate-impeachment-day3-VD-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Presiding officer Sen. Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero during the third day of the impeachment trial on Wednesday, July 8. Voltaire F. Domingo,  Senate Social Media Unit"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Presiding officer Sen. Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero during the third day of the impeachment trial on Wednesday, July 8. <em>Voltaire F. Domingo,  Senate Social Media Unit</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — On the fifth day of the Senate Impeachment Court hearing on the complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, presiding officer Sen. Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero jokingly reminded both the defense and prosecution panels that impeachment proceedings are &quot;not a college debate.&quot;</p><p>Escudero made the remark during the cross-examination of former NBI Cybercrime Division chief and now BARMM Regional Director Atty. Jeremy Lotoc by defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan.</p><p>Vinluan presented excerpts from Duterte&#x27;s virtual press conference, where she spoke about allegedly corrupt politicians in Mindanao who gave alms to constituents and supposedly used them for political gain.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/14/defense-plays-more-clips-from-2024-duterte-video-in-lotoc-cross-examination-1559">READ: Defense plays more clips from 2024 Duterte video in Lotoc cross-examination</a></div><p>“Can you confirm now that statements she made about BBM, FL and the former speaker and the congressman relating to various acts of corruption are true and happened in real life,” Vinluan asked Lotoc.</p><p>“As to the existence of the utterances…yes sir,” Lotoc answered.</p><p>Vinluan then remarked: “Alright, so you just admitted that the congressmen are all corrupt?”</p><p>Prosecution counsel Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan objected, describing the statement as an improper remark.</p><p>“Objection, that is a foul side remark - the counsel is wasting the answer of the witness,” Ligutan argued.</p><p>At that point, Escudero immediately called the attention of both parties and reminded them of the seriousness of the impeachment proceedings. He also instructed the witness to be more precise in answering questions to avoid misunderstandings.</p><p>“Counsel for the parties, kindly settle down… The witness said, that he confirmed thus to the utterances were made. This is not a college debate,” Escudero told the defense and prosecution counsels.</p><p>Lotoc later clarified that, based on the NBI&#x27;s investigation, there was evidence that the statements were made, but he had no personal knowledge of whether Duterte had actually hired an assassin.</p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/14/-typos-do-not-alter-fact-that-vp-sara-duterte-made-alleged-threats-nbi-exec-1653">READ: &#x27;Typos&#x27; do not alter fact that VP Sara Duterte made alleged threats -- NBI exec</a></div><p>“Based on our investigation, as to the existence of that utterances, yeah, dahil may mga pieces of evidence kami but whether or not kung nangyari yan, wala ho akong personal knowledge sir,” Lotoc said.</p><p>“That utterances made by the Vice President that she contracted a person, I do believe that sir, because of the pieces of evidence that we gathered,” Lotoc added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>VICE PRESIDENT AS BAR PASSER</strong></div><p>During the hearing, Vinluan also established that Vice President Duterte is a lawyer who obtained an 80% passing grade in the Bar examinations.</p><p>“Are you aware that the Vice President is a lawyer?” Vinluan asked Lotoc, who answered in the affirmative.</p><p>“That she passed the bar exams.. with the first attempt and with the rating of 80%. Are you aware of this,” Vinluan asked.</p><p>“She has a higher grade than most of the lawyers here,” Vinluan added.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/14/vp-sara-s-lawyer-called-out-over-disparaging-remarks-about-grades-1707">READ: Sara Duterte&#x27;s lawyer called out over &#x27;disparaging&#x27; remarks about Bar exam grades</a></div><p>Vinluan&#x27;s remark drew reactions from those in the gallery, where most of those present—including lawyers and staff members of the senator-judges—responded to the statement.</p><p>Prosecution counsel Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan argued that Vinluan&#x27;s statements were irrelevant to the proceedings. Escudero, for his part, reminded the defense counsel to refrain from making such pronouncements during the hearing.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CzbZwzVKFgg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>On the fifth day of the Senate Impeachment Court hearing on the complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, presiding officer Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero jokingly reminded both the defense and prosecution panels that impeachment proceedings are "not a college debate."</p>

On the fifth day of the Senate Impeachment Court hearing on the complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, presiding officer Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero jokingly reminded both the defense and prosecution panels that impeachment proceedings are "not a college debate."

Escudero reminds defense, prosecution: Impeachment hearing 'not a college debate'

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Escudero reminds defense, prosecution: Impeachment hearing 'not a college debate'

Johnson Manabat,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 15, 2026 12:17 AM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

impeachment trial

Amando Ligutan

Jeremy Lotoc

Mark Vinluan

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