Camille Naredo

The Senate session hall is prepared on Friday, July 3, to serve as an impeachment court ahead of the formal trial against Vice President Sara Duterte. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

The Senate session hall is prepared on Friday, July 3, to serve as an impeachment court ahead of the formal trial against Vice President Sara Duterte. Senators will convene as Senator-Judges at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 6, with the impeachment court directing Duterte to appear in person or through legal counsel for the proceedings. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

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/178313073674720260703-senate-impeachment-court-MT5.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The Senate session hall is prepared on Friday, July 3, to serve as an impeachment court ahead of the formal trial against Vice President Sara Duterte. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Senate session hall is prepared on Friday, July 3, to serve as an impeachment court ahead of the formal trial against Vice President Sara Duterte. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – The Senate is prepared to convene as an impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, July 6, with opening statements from both the prosecution and defense expected on the first day, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Saturday.</p><p>In an interview with DZMM, Gatchalian said the impeachment court has completed most of its logistical and security preparations ahead of the proceedings.</p><p>He said the Senate has already issued six sets of guidelines covering security, media access, and the movement of senator-judges inside the Senate.</p><p>“Handang-handa na ang impeachment court sa darating na Lunes… from security to media movement, even movement ng ating mga senator, judges, lahat ’yon ay pinalabas na through guidelines,” he said.</p><p>Gatchalian added that pre-trial orders and other official documents are already being uploaded to the Senate website “in the spirit of transparency.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>OPENING STATEMENTS TO OPEN JULY 6 TRIAL</strong></div><p>Monday’s proceedings, he said, will be devoted to opening statements, with no witnesses expected to testify on the first day.</p><p>“Definitely mag-oopen tayo, magbibigay tayo ng opening statement, ‘yung prosecution, ‘yung defense magbibigay ng opening statements… dahil first day ito, magbibigay tayo ng mahabang oras for prosecution at defense to give their opening statement,” he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/4/-all-systems-go-for-vp-duterte-impeachment-trial-on-july-6-house-prosecutor-says-0917">&#x27;All systems go&#x27; for VP Duterte impeachment trial on July 6, House prosecutor says</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WITNESSES TO BEGIN ON TUESDAY</strong></div><p>He said the Senate is still finalizing the schedule, but witnesses are expected to begin testifying on Tuesday.</p><p>Asked whether Duterte must personally appear before the impeachment court, Gatchalian said the Senate rules allow her to send a representative.</p><p>“Under our rules, imbitahan ang akusado or respondent para dumalo pero pwede rin siyang mag-assign ng kaniyang counsel or kaniyang representative. In fact, sa rules, hindi nga sinabing counsel, sinabi representative. So nasa option na ’yan ng respondent kung siya ay dadalo o hindi,” he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/3/house-impeachment-prosecutor-hopes-sara-duterte-will-appear-in-trial-1745">House impeachment prosecutor hopes Sara Duterte will appear in trial</a></div><p>Gatchalian also brushed aside discussions over the number of votes required to convict the vice president, saying the matter has yet to be formally raised before the impeachment court.</p><p>“Sa ngayon, hindi pa ‘yan issue sa aming impeachment court… Lumalabas ‘yan sa media, napag-uusapan lang ng iba’t ibang abogado, iba’t ibang legal luminaries. So opinyon lang ang lumalabas for now. But formally, sa impeachment court, hindi pa issue ’yan,” he said.</p><p>The issue has been widely debated by legal experts following questions on the number of senator-judges who would ultimately participate in the trial.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PREPARATIONS ARE UNDERWAY</strong></div><p>Despite pending legal questions over the June 3 Senate session convened by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Gatchalian said preparations for the impeachment trial have continued uninterrupted.</p><p>“Tuloy-tuloy ang ating pag-aarrange, pag-oorganize, pagpe-prepare o paghahanda ng impeachment… pati ’yung mga pre-trial orders, mga pre-trial documents, ay inu-upload na ngayon sa website ng Senate in the spirit of transparency,” he said.</p><p>As Senate president, Gatchalian is expected to preside over the impeachment court unless a majority of senator-judges vote otherwise, as allowed under the Senate impeachment rules.</p><p>“Malinaw sa ating rules na ang presiding officer ay Senate President, unless yung majority will think otherwise. Very clear ’yan on our rules,” he said.</p><p>Gatchalian said he has been balancing preparations for the impeachment proceedings with the Senate’s regular work, including the upcoming budget deliberations and several committee investigations, such as the probe into flood control projects and the Tacloban school shooting.</p><p>He added that committee hearings may still be held in the mornings, while impeachment proceedings are expected to start at 2 p.m. </p><p>During the regular session after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address, senators are eyeing a schedule of legislative sessions at 10 a.m. and impeachment proceedings at 3 p.m.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘MARCOLETA STILL A SENATOR’</strong></div><p>On questions regarding Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who is facing a complaint before the Sandiganbayan, Gatchalian declined to speculate on possible court action.</p><p>“Ayaw kong mag-speculate to answer hypothetical question because very sensitive ito… Hindi naman ibig sabihin na kapag finile sa korte, automatic ay may warrant of arrest. Ito ang judicial process. Mabibigyan siya ng pagkakataon na maghain ng depensa,” he said.</p><p>He added that Marcoleta remains a senator and may continue participating in Senate proceedings unless a court decides otherwise.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.google.com/search?q=marcoleta+abs+cbn&amp;oq=marcoleta+abs+cbn&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqEwgAEAAYgwEYkQIYsQMYgAQYigUyEwgAEAAYgwEYkQIYsQMYgAQYigUyCggBEAAYxwMYgAQyCAgCEAAYFhgeMgsIAxAAGBYYHhjHAzILCAQQABgWGB4YxwMyCwgFEAAYFhgeGMcDMggIBhAAGBYYHjIGCAcQRRg80gEIMTk1NmowajSoAgCwAgE&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">Ombudsman files plunder case vs Marcoleta over alleged non-disclosure of campaign funds</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 Senate is prepared to convene as an impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, July 6, with opening statements from both the prosecution and defense expected on the first day, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Saturday.</p>

The Senate is prepared to convene as an impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, July 6, with opening statements from both the prosecution and defense expected on the first day, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Saturday.

Senate ready for Duterte impeachment trial on July 6, says Gatchalian

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Senate ready for Duterte impeachment trial on July 6, says Gatchalian

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 04, 2026 10:15 AM PHT

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Senate

Duterte impeachment

Sherwin Gatchalian

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