Camille Naredo

The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, listens as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag resumes his testimony during the ninth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, listens as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag resumes his testimony during the ninth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Wednesday, July 22, 2026.
Matibag returned to the witness stand to testify on the NBI’s investigation into alleged grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Agatha Gregorio

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/178473168393620260722-senate-impeachment-day9-MT14.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, listens as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag resumes his testimony during the ninth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, listens as National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Atty. Melvin Matibag resumes his testimony during the ninth day of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- With a trial as high-profile as that of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, it comes as no surprise that social media has been filled with netizen&#x27;s reactions to the proceedings.</p><p>But the noise on the impeachment trial seems to have made its way inside the session hall, as Senate staff had to raise the “SILENCE PLEASE” sign several times on Wednesday.</p><p>This was largely due to remarks from Senator-judges.</p><p>The loudest reactions seemed to have been elicited by Senator Robin Padilla’s comment when he said, “Sana hindi one-sided ang ating prosecution.”</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/nbi-probe-into-duterte-hitman-narrowed-down-to-20-names-matibag-1619"><strong>NBI probe into Duterte &#x27;hitman&#x27; narrowed down to 20 names—Matibag</strong></a></div><p>Expressions of protest were audible and visible inside the session hall following the statement, and they appeared to have come from the area of the prosecution team.</p><p>Attorney Lorna Kapunan, a counsel for the prosecutors, <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sve6s-pwUPE">has since issued an apology to Padilla</a> for the “instinctive reaction” from the prosecution&#x27;s front row.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung mga ibang lawyers pa nga nagpo-pound on the table– ‘Objection, your honor.’ [...] It is because of our years of training where we instinctively react to what we think is wrong or to what we think is unfair,&quot; Kapunan said in a press conference after adjournment.</p><p>&quot;As I&#x27;ve said before, we cannot, unlike if it were the defense, for instance we&#x27;re prosecution, if it were the defense who made a statement or who made an unfair allegation, we can contest it. Kaya lang ‘pag senator-judge, siyempre hindi puwede. And that is why sometimes a reaction is more visual than vocal,&quot; she added.</p><p>But after this, it did not take long before Senate staff were forced to raise the silence sign once again.</p><p>Senator Raffy Tulfo called out the impeachment court, alleging it was inconsistent in imposing the two-minute speaking limit for senator-judges.</p><p>This elicited smiles from some individuals in that area. As Tulfo said, “Ako ilang beses na ako napindutan ng bell. Nakakairita. Samantalang ‘yung iba, hindi pinipindutan ng bell, umaabot na ng 5 minutes,” Padilla could be seen suppressing a smile.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/padilla-to-prosecution-in-vp-sara-s-impeachment-sana-wag-kayong-one-sided-1720"><strong>Padilla to prosecution in VP Sara&#x27;s impeachment: Sana &#x27;wag kayong one-sided</strong></a></div><p>Tulfo raised his concern in the middle of Padilla’s interjection.</p><p>Escudero then instructed the timekeeper to be consistent with the time allotted, prompting laughter from numerous observers.</p><p>Later on, as Senator Francis Pangilinan was asking questions, Tulfo laughed upon hearing the bell ring.</p><p>The impeachment court erupted in laughter once again when National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag replied to the defense counsel with a phrase repeatedly mentioned by the presiding officer in the trial.</p><p>“<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rc7l7e99JBM">Asked and answered po,</a>” Matibag said in reply to a question about self-confessed Davao Death Squad member Arturo Lascañas.</p><p>However, the reaction elicited by a remark from Senator Alan Peter Cayetano was not like the others.</p><p>Cayetano clarified he was laughing when Matibag mentioned “six or seven” during the trial because he remembered <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfwCTK8SS4E">the viral “6-7” trend</a>, which comes with its own hand movement.</p><p>Senator-judge Imee Marcos followed suit when Cayetano demonstrated the hand gesture.</p><div> </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/aCrljyGemK4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>With a trial as high-profile as that of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, it comes as no surprise that social media has been filled with netizen's reactions to the proceedings.</p>

With a trial as high-profile as that of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, it comes as no surprise that social media has been filled with netizen's reactions to the proceedings.

‘Silence please’: Senator-judges’ remarks on Day 9 of impeachment trial spark audible reactions

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‘Silence please’: Senator-judges’ remarks on Day 9 of impeachment trial spark audible reactions

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 22, 2026 10:52 PM PHT

Read More:

Senate

Impeachment

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