Marilyn Cahatol

The Senate opens the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, convening as an impeachment court on Monday, July 6, 2026, with 21 senators present in the session hall. Senator-judges, led by Senate President Win Gatchalian, entered past 2 p.m. wearing Oxford crimson robes. Members of the House prosecution panel and Duterte’s defense team also took their places in the plenary. The trial begins with four articles of impeachment against Duterte, which cover the alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery of Department of Education officials, and grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family. Joseph B. Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Johnson Manabat

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The prosecution and defense teams on Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s impeachment case were satisfied with the first day of the trial.</p><p>Atty. Michael Poa, spokesperson for the defense, said their lead counsel, Atty. Shiela Sison, was well prepared with her opening statement. </p><p>He also said both the defense and the prosecution raised arguments as the proceedings kicked off, but Poa said this is &quot;normal&quot;.</p><p>“I think for both sides naman it went smoothly, obviously may mga arguments from both sides. But again, that normal talaga namang inaasahan na magkakaroon ng mga ganyang opposing views. I think, it was a good first day for everyone.&quot;</p><p>Poa refused to comment on which side came out stronger on the first day.</p><p>“Ayaw naming magbilangan ng ganyan. As long as we present our case, and present what we want for the day — we should be happy. Hindi naman po kami yung tipong nagbibilangan kung sinong lamang, kung sinong hindi lamang.”</p><p>The defense spokesperson also said Vice President Sara Duterte is constantly informed of developments in her case despite not personally attending the first day of the trial.</p><p>“The communication between attorney and client is privileged, but rest assured that we really update the Vice President regularly. In fact, I talked to her if not once at least several times a day on various matters including impeachment. She’s always apprised and updated kung ano yung nangyayari,” said Poa. </p><p>He added that it is still uncertain if they will advise the Vice President to attend the next hearings. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/duterte-says-impeachment-trial-attendance-a-matter-of-legal-strategy-1314">Duterte skips start of Senate impeachment trial</a></div><p>“Right now, it’s too early to say. Whether we recommend or not (for VP Sara to personally appear before the impeachment court) I know, the public is very much interested in that…but any advise given by lawyer to his or her client if privilege by nature - it’s something that we will never disclose in public,” Poa explained. </p><p>The defense team also respects the decision of the impeachment court to elect <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/senate-impeachment-court-elects-escudero-as-presiding-officer-1448">Sen. Francis “Chiz”  Escudero to be its presiding officer.</a></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/escudero-s-election-as-impeachment-court-president-officer-valid-has-legal-basis-1928">Escudero&#x27;s election as impeachment court president officer &#x27;valid, has legal basis&#x27;</a></div><p>“We always felt that this was something for the Senate to settle. Nagkaroon ng arguments kanina, constitutional issues, so ayaw ko na munang mag-comment out of respect for our senators. Gusto lang nating galangin ang ating mga senator-judges,” said Poa.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HOUSE PROSECUTORS: &#x27;WE ARE VICTORIOUS&#x27;</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Lead Prosecutor and Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro denied that the prosecution “lost” during the first day of the impeachment trial, saying it is a win for the trial to have started in the first place.</p><p>Luistro said it is not only prosecutors who are successful, but also the Filipino people who waited for the trial for a long time.</p><p>“We are victorious. Tagumpay ang prosecution. Tagumpay ang taong bayan because we have waited for this impeachment trial for so long, and it is happening right now. That alone, we claim victory for what happened today,” Luistro said in a press conference after adjournment.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/in-opening-speech-luistro-says-prosecution-to-show-evidence-not-rumors-in-duterte-trial-1613">&#x27;Hindi socmed narrative&#x27;: Luistro says prosecution to show evidence, not rumors, in Duterte trial</a></div><p>For House prosecutor and Akbayan party-list Representative Chel Diokno, it is too early to tell if they won or lost, especially as they only discussed preliminary matters.</p><p>“This is only the first day of the trial. At ‘yung mga napag-usapan ay mga preliminary matters pa lang,” Diokno said.</p><p>Presentation of evidence is expected to begin on Tuesday, Luistro said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/prosecution-distances-duterte-impeachment-from-marcoleta-s-arrest-1352">Prosecution distances Duterte impeachment from Marcoleta’s arrest</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>EXPANDED LIST OF BIR DOCUMENTS</strong></div><p>The prosecution filed a new request for a subpoena for an expanded list of documents from the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), according to Luistro.</p><p>Luistro said this includes not just records of Duterte and her husband, but also the companies they own, according to Luistro.</p><p>“What I remember when we issued the subpoena, we were requesting for the ITR of the respondent and the husband. I understand that this time around, lahat ng ITR and BIR records pertaining to the respondent, the husband, and even the companies they own… We need that to be able to support the articles of impeachment,” Luistro told reporters.</p><p>Luistro said she did not expect the impeachment court’s move to return the BIR box with Duterte and her husband’s tax records.</p><p>“Hindi ko po inasaahan personally ‘yun because I have always believed that this is the impeachment court, and the mandate of the Constitution should always prevail over any other statute. ‘Yung confidentiality, doon ‘yun napapaloob sa provision ng National Internal Revenue Code. But what we are trying to address here is our obligation under the Constitution about accountability mechanism,” Luistro said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/impeachment-court-summons-nbi-agents-sends-back-bir-box-1818">Impeachment court summons NBI agents, sends back BIR box</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>32M VOTES NOT AN EXCUSE</strong></div><p>Duterte garnering over 32 million votes to become vice president is not a valid excuse for her to violate laws, House prosecution spokesperson Ace Barbers said in response to the defense’s opening statement.</p><p>Attorney Sheila Sison, Duterte’s legal counsel, mentioned the vote count in her opening statement and how members of the House supposedly “seek to undo this people’s choice.”</p><p>“Hindi naman license ‘yung 32 million votes na mag-commit tayo ng mga paglabag sa batas, lalong lalo na kung ikaw ay isang public officer. Nakasaad sa ating saligang batas na mayroong mga accountability mechanism na kung saan ay mayroong mga pananagutan na dapat harapin ang mga public officer kung mayroon silang nilabag na batas o mga alituntunin sa ating saligang batas,” Barbers said.</p><p>Also responding to Sison’s opening statement, Luistro said the House “never” conducted a fishing expedition in relation to impeachment proceedings.</p><p>Diokno also commented on the impeachment court’s efforts towards transparency, such as posting of pleadings and other documents related to the impeachment trial to the Senate website.</p><p>“Napakahalaga ng transparency lalong lalo na sa impeachment case. Alam naman natin lahat na ito ay pinapanood ng buong Pilipinas at kung hindi naman nila masasabayan ‘yung mga dokumento, yung mga argumento na nasa loob ng record ng ating impeachment court, mas mahihirapan silang intindihin at unawain ‘yung mga nangyayari,” Diokno said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WiGDG90zvls?si=g08GMD8B4l-VN5Ne" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>The prosecution and defense teams on Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case were satisfied with the first day of the trial.</p>

The prosecution and defense teams on Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment case were satisfied with the first day of the trial.

Prosecution, defense satisfied with first day of impeachment trial

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Prosecution, defense satisfied with first day of impeachment trial

Johnson Manabat,

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 06, 2026 08:14 PM PHT

Read More:

Atty. Michael Poa

Sara Duterte

Impeachment

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