Marilyn Cahatol

The Senate of the Philippines, sitting as an impeachment court, resumed the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, July 13, 2026, to hear from a new witness on the impeachment articles against the Vice President.
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) regional director for BARMM Atty. Jeremy Lotoc took the witness stand to testify on Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which concerns Duterte's alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and alleged incitement to sedition.
Lotoc formerly headed the NBI's Cybercrime Division, which investigated the statements made by the Vice President during a November 23, 2024 media briefing. He is the second witness presented by the House prosecution panel.
Joseph Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit

Article (news)

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/178410738313220260714--senate-impeachment-day4-SSMU-JV-8.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Senate of the Philippines, sitting as an impeachment court, resumed the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, July 13, 2026, to hear from a new witness on the impeachment articles against the Vice President. <em>Joseph Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED) </strong>— The prosecution has dropped six more witnesses in relation to Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s alleged &quot;grave threats&quot; against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. </p><p>The prosecution said it will no longer present the Philippine National Police Firearms and Explosives Office representative who will supposedly testify “that the respondent owns firearms including the high-powered ones, which demonstrate the capacity and capability to demonstrate the threat.”</p><p>Lead House prosecutor Gerville Luistro explained that it has been established that “the government took seriously the threat,&quot; and “prompted the full-scale investigation including the recommendation to file a criminal complaint.”</p><p>The prosecution also withdrew reporters Mikhail Flores and Bonz Magsambol as witnesses. They were present during the Nov. 23, 2024 press conference when Duterte uttered the alleged “threat.”</p><p>Luistro said its first witness, National Bureau of Investigation Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, has “already established that the video is authentic” and that the defense has also admitted the same. </p><p>Abe Andres, the sheriff <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/25/court-sheriff-vp-duterte-punched-in-2011-listed-as-prosecution-witness-in-impeachment-trial-1943">Duterte punched in 2011 </a>when she was Davao City’s mayor, is also supposed to stand as a witness. The prosecution dropped him, saying the incident “has been acknowledged by both parties.”</p><p>The prosecution will no longer present a family member of a victim of threats, who is “intended to testify on the effect, the gravity, and the seriousness of the threat allegedly committed by the respondent.”</p><p>Lastly, the prosecution dropped the psychiatrist who will talk about “the respondent’s state of mind, the nature of the violence in the statement made as well as the capacity and capability to actually execute the threat.”</p><p>Before this, the prosecution said it will no longer present as witnesses <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/14/prosecution-to-no-longer-present-lopez-bello-in-impeachment-trial-2023">Zuleika Lopez, Duterte’s chief of staff, and Capt. Belinda Bello</a>, executive director of the Legislative Security Bureau, Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Representatives, on the same article of impeachment.</p><p><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/14/nbi-director-matibag-says-ready-to-testify-anytime-in-duterte-impeachment-trial-1756">NBI Director Melvin Matibag</a>, who will appear next Tuesday, will be the prosecution’s last witness for Article 4.</p><p>Meanwhile, the prosecution has also requested the issuance of subpoenas for the first three witnesses on the first article of impeachment, accusing Duterte of misuse of confidential funds.</p><p>They are Marivic Pareja of the Museum Management Service of the House of Representatives, and Landbank employees Violeta Constantino and Nenita Camposano.    </p><div><a 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><em></em><strong>WATCH:</strong><em></em><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3StIaciCWP4?si=Kl-ZzNbW0zpz_2pX" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>The prosecution has dropped six more witnesses in relation to Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged "grave threats" against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.</p>

The prosecution has dropped six more witnesses in relation to Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged "grave threats" against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Prosecution drops more witnesses on impeachment article on 'grave threat'

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Prosecution drops more witnesses on impeachment article on 'grave threat'

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 15, 2026 05:39 PM PHT

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Updated July 15, 2026 06:24 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

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