Marilyn Cahatol

The Senate of the Philippines, sitting as an impeachment court, listens to the oral arguments presented by the House prosecution panel—led by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno—on the issuance of a subpoena to the Bureau of Internal Revenue to open a box containing the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte, during the sixth day of the impeachment proceedings on July 15, 2026.   Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Katrina Domingo

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/178411776173420260715-senat-vp-sara-impeachment-day6-MT8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" spellcheck="false" style="text-align:left">The Senate of the Philippines, sitting as an impeachment court, listens to the oral arguments presented by the House prosecution panel—led by Akbayan Party-list Rep. Chel Diokno—on the issuance of a subpoena to the Bureau of Internal Revenue to open a box containing the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte, during the sixth day of the impeachment proceedings on July 15, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Senate impeachment court expects to tackle Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) before August, the chamber’s spokesperson said on Wednesday.</p><p>The expectation was announced after the prosecution panel <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/15/prosecution-drops-more-witnesses-on-impeachment-article-on-grave-threat-1739">withdrew 6 more witnesses </a>who were set to testify about Duterte’s grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and some of his family members.</p><p>“Dahil nabawasan yung witnesses sa article 4, technically we are expecting na before July ends matapos na natin yung artikulo,” Atty. Reginald Tongol, the court’s spokesperson said in a press conference.</p><p>Under impeachment Article I or the alleged misuse of confidential funds, the prosecution accused Duterte of committing betrayal of public trust and graft and corruption for the supposed “systematic misuse, misappropriation and irregular liquidation of confidential funds” worth P500 million for the OVP and P112.5 million for the DepEd.</p><p>Prosecutors have asked the Senate impeachment court to issue subpoenas for the following witnesses next week: </p><ol><li>Marivic Pareja, Legislative Archive Museum, House of Representatives </li><li>Violeta Constantino, former manager, Landbank - Shaw Blvd branch </li><li>Leonita Camposano, former manager, Landbank - DepEd branch</li></ol><p>“We will first finish the presentation of the prosecution for all articles before listening to the presentation of the defense for all articles then we decide by article [of impeachment],” Presiding Officer Chiz Escudero said.</p><p>Meantime, the prosecution and the defense debated about whether or not the court should allow legal counsels to expound reasons for the withdrawal of witnesses.</p><p>“If the intent is just to say we’re withdrawing, that’s it. Just say the intent without saying any conclusions,” lead defense counsel Shiela Sison said.</p><p>“I’m not asking for any special treatment or privilege… All I’m asking is if the parties may be guided from making conclusions of law.”</p><p>But lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro underscored that their previous manifestation on the withdrawal of OVP chief of staff Zuleika Lopez and Capt. Belinda Bello was only meant to explain their position, and not to convince the public.</p><p>“Nais ko lang ipaalala sa ating mga kababayan na this is a constitutional process and therefore providing the reasons for the withdrawal need to be communicated to the viewing public,” Luistro said.</p><p>“Kailangan maintindihna bakit winiwithdraw ang ibang testigo.”</p><p>Escudero later on ruled that the Senate impeachment court <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/15/senate-impeach-court-bars-prosecution-defense-from-remarks-on-withdrawing-witnesses-1930">would be more circumspect </a>in the manifestations of both the prosecution and defense.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/15/senate-duterte-bank-tax-records-impeachment-trial-1706">Impeachment court to decide on bid to open Duterte bank, tax records on Monday</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7EPgAMFf0b0?si=G_-zSBw2f9ul0hNT" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The Senate impeachment court expects to tackle Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) before August, the chamber’s spokesperson said on Wednesday.</p>

The Senate impeachment court expects to tackle Vice President Sara Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) before August, the chamber’s spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Impeachment court expects to tackle alleged misuse of OVP, DepEd confidential funds before August

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Impeachment court expects to tackle alleged misuse of OVP, DepEd confidential funds before August

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 15, 2026 08:49 PM PHT

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Sara Duterte

Sara Duterte impeachment trial

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