Marilyn Cahatol

The defense and House prosecution panels cross-examine NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag as he takes the witness stand during the eighth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. Matibag was asked about the agency’s ongoing investigation related to the fourth article of impeachment, focusing on the grave threats uttered by Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. 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/178463317244520260721-vp-sara-impeachment-day8-MT19.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 NBI Director Atty. Melvin Matibag as he takes the witness stand during the eighth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is suspended Monday and Tuesday next week to give way to the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Senator-Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero announced. </p><p>The SONA is scheduled Monday next week, while Tuesday is given for the minority bloc to prepare and deliver their “kontra-SONA,” by tradition, said Escudero, presiding officer of the trial.</p><p>Monday is also the resumption of the Senate session. The court adjusted its schedule to 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Monday to Wednesday starting July 29, while Senate session will be at 4 p.m.</p><p>Meanwhile, National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag will continue his testimony tomorrow, Wednesday, via cross-examination, redirect or re-cross, and interpellations by the senator-judges. </p><p>Matibag is the last witness for the prosecution panel&#x27;s discussion of the article of impeachment that accuses Duterte of committing grave threats and inciting sedition when she said that she had arranged for Marcos to be killed should an alleged threat against her own life be carried out.  </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/21/nbi-pursuing-persons-of-interest-in-duterte-s-alleged-threat-vs-marcos-1607">NBI pursuing ‘persons of interest’ in Duterte’s alleged threat vs Marcos</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WATCH:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="960" height="540" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UQL_9hIrrBQ?si=ysRsMBbCk6_0GHuE" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is suspended Monday and Tuesday next week to give way to the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Senator-Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero announced.</p>

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is suspended Monday and Tuesday next week to give way to the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Senator-Judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero announced.

Escudero says impeachment trial suspended next Monday, Tuesday for SONA; sets new trial schedule

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Escudero says impeachment trial suspended next Monday, Tuesday for SONA; sets new trial schedule

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 21, 2026 07:38 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

impeachment trial

Melvin Matibag

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

SONA

State of the Nation Address

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