Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

Senators formally convene as an impeachment court to try the complaints filed against Vice President Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on May 18, 2026. 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/178312766396620260518-senate-impeachment-court-MT21.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Senators formally convene as an impeachment court to try the complaints filed against Vice President Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on May 18, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senators formally convene as an impeachment court to try the complaints filed against Vice President Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on May 18, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – The House prosecution panel is ready for the resumption of Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial on Monday, July 6, with one of its members saying there is no reason for the proceedings to be delayed anew.</p><p>&quot;Tingin ko, all systems go na. Wala naman ako nakikitang dahilan para ito ay maantala o ma-delay sa Lunes dahil sa totoo lang, matagal na itong inaantabayan ng taumbayan,&quot; House Prosecutor and Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua said Saturday in an interview with DZMM.</p><p>The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, is set to resume proceedings after previously ordering the House prosecution panel to comply with several requirements before the trial could proceed. </p><p>The House has since certified that the Articles of Impeachment complied with constitutional requirements and re-submitted the necessary documents.</p><p>Chua said the prosecution&#x27;s priority is ensuring that all pending motions are resolved on the first day of trial.</p><p>“Well, sa ngayon, ang aming focus ay ang paghahanda na gagawin namin at ito naman ay nakikita natin sa Lunes na magkakaroon ng ilang mga debate patungkol sa mga motions na inihain namin sa impeachment court,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MOTIONS</strong></div><p>Among the motions is the prosecution&#x27;s request to allow a public prosecutor and a private prosecutor to jointly examine each witness. Under the current impeachment rules, only one counsel may conduct the examination.</p><p>“Sa kasalukuyang rules kasi, ang ina-allow lang ay isa, so whether private or public [prosecutor.] Ang gusto sana namin ay joint – parehas na makapag participate kada testigo ang isang public at isang private,” Chua said.</p><p>He said the arrangement would help the prosecution present its evidence more effectively.</p><p>“Kada testigo lang naman ‘yan. May isang testigo na isasalang.. Halimbawa isang, kung sino mag didirect examination diyan – ang ibig sabihin ay kung sino magtatanong. sana payagan kami na may ka-tandem ito na isang… kung public ang magdidirect, kaya bigyan kami ng pagkakataon na magsama kami ng private. Kung may isang private na magtatanong, payagan din na may isang public na magtatanong,” Chua said.</p><p>“Mas maganda ‘yon dahil mas mailalatag natin nang maayos yung ebidensya. At yung mga tanong na gusto nating itanong,” Chua added.</p><p>Another issue expected to be debated is the prosecution&#x27;s request involving the so-called &quot;mystery box&quot; containing Vice President Duterte&#x27;s tax records, which remained sealed during the House Committee on Justice proceedings. The prosecution wants the box opened in an executive session of the impeachment court.</p><p>The House justice panel previously voted to leave the opening of the sealed tax records to the Senate impeachment court after including the documents as part of the records of the case. </p><p>Chua said the defense had agreed that any discussion on the box should be held in executive session, although with certain conditions.</p><p>“Kapag sinabing executive session, hindi ito magiging bukas sa publiko. Tanging ang mga miyembro ng public prosecutor, ang mga senator judges, at ‘yung depensa, ‘yung mga abogado ng defense, at ilang mga court personnel or impeachment court personnel ang papayagan ng impeachment court,” he said.</p><p>He also maintained there is legal basis for the impeachment court to obtain Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) records through subpoena.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/1/house-prosecution-to-raise-opening-bir-box-in-comment-to-pre-trial-order-barbers-1736">House prosecution to raise opening BIR box in comment to pre-trial order: Barbers</a></div><p>“Kng titignan sa regular court, &#x27;yung mga kinakasuhan sa tax evasion, bakit sila ina-allow &#x27;yung ganito through the subpoena na ini-issue ng korte. Ito namang impeachment court, maihahantulad natin sa mga ordinaryong korte,” he said.</p><p>“Ang paniniwala namin, kung wala namang itinatago, bakit kailangang ito ay pagtakpan pa sa publiko?” he aded.</p><p>Monday&#x27;s proceedings are expected to begin with the formal entry of appearance of both parties, followed by their opening statements and arguments on the pending motions.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>JULY 6 TRIAL</strong></div><p>Chua, however, said the prosecution does not expect to present witnesses on the opening day.</p><p>The prosecution plans to initially present three witnesses — two officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Executive Director of the House Legislative Personnel Service.</p><p>According to Chua, the first witnesses will testify on the article of impeachment involving Duterte&#x27;s alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then-House Speaker Martin Romualdez.</p><p>He also clarified that if Duterte does not personally appear when the impeachment court reconvenes, the proceedings will continue.</p><p>“Well, doon naman sa rules, kung saka-sakaling hindi siya dumalo o kahit sinong representante o abogado, ang entry of not guilty shall be entered. Ibig sabihin, ang impeachment court mismo ang mag-eenter ng kaniyang plea. Which is not guilty. &#x27;Yun lang ang mangyayari doon. Hindi ibig sabihin non na hindi na siya pwede mag-participate sa mga susunod na araw,” Chua said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/3/impeachment-court-issues-directive-on-vp-sara-appearance-in-trial-1108">Impeachment court directs Sara Duterte to appear ‘in person or through counsel’ at July 6 trial</a></div><p>Chua also downplayed concerns over the prosecution&#x27;s request for 62 trial dates, saying the number merely reflects the maximum schedule needed based on the expected witnesses.</p><p>“Depende ‘yan kung nangyari pa. Marami nagtatanong na bakit ang haba raw ng trial dates na hinihiling namin, which is 62, pero doon po kasi sa 62 trial dates na hiniling namin, ay hindi ibig sabihin non ay kukunsumuhin lahat ‘yon,” he said.</p><p>The Senate is set to begin proceedings on July 6. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/4/castro-vp-duterte-s-impeachment-appearance-to-show-capability-to-answer-allegations-0650">Castro says Sara Duterte&#x27;s impeachment appearance to show capability to answer allegations, face witnesses</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><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/mVpfkDKwChI?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The House prosecution panel is ready for the resumption of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial on Monday, July 6, with one of its members saying there is no reason for the proceedings to be delayed anew.</p>

The House prosecution panel is ready for the resumption of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial on Monday, July 6, with one of its members saying there is no reason for the proceedings to be delayed anew.

'All systems go' for VP Duterte impeachment trial on July 6, House prosecutor says

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'All systems go' for VP Duterte impeachment trial on July 6, House prosecutor says

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 04, 2026 09:17 AM PHT

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Duterte impeachment

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