Jonathan Frederic De Santos

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian opens the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate on July 6, 2026. Senate of the Philippines photo

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<div><strong><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/178333986605238fb9354-95e3-4576-9f04-1e21338b82d0.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian opens the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate on July 6, 2026. <em>Senate of the Philippines photo</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s impeachment rial began with a heated debate on whether the Senate impeachment court could elect a presiding officer other than Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, which senators opposed to it warned may cast doubt on proceedings.</p><p>Gatchalian opened proceedings and<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/gatchalian-vows-impartial-justice-as-duterte-impeachment-trial-starts-at-senate-1444"> promised an orderly, open, and impartial trial </a>but called for the election of a presiding officer based on an amendment to the rules that he and 11 other senators approved in June.</p><p>Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano, Senate president before Gatchalian, quickly objected to the move, saying the 1987 Constitution requires the Senate president to also be presiding officer. </p><p>He said doing it otherwise would violate the Constitution and could invalidate decisions the impeachment court may make in the case.</p><p>His sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano made a similar objection, stressing &quot;the foundation of this trial [is that the correct person is the presiding officer].&quot;</p><p>Gatchalian, who referenced the June resolution, said the constitution also allows Congress to &quot;promulgate its rules on impeachment.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/cayetano-wants-marcoleta-jinggoy-at-duterte-impeachment-trial-1748"><strong>Cayetano wants Marcoleta, Jinggoy at Duterte impeachment trial</strong><br/></a></div><p>He added that the amendment to the rules was made in plenary, as they were in the trials of President Joseph Estrada in 2000 and of Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2011.</p><p>&quot;So any issues pertaining to this resolution should be discussed in plenary when the Senate convenes as a legislative body,&quot; he said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/senate-impeachment-court-elects-escudero-as-presiding-officer-1448"><strong>Senate impeachment court elects Escudero as presiding officer</strong></a></div><p>Sen. Francis Pangilinan and Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III said the constitution does not specifically say that only the Senate president can preside over the trial.</p><p>The impeachment court eventually elected Sen. Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero its presiding officer in a 12-8 vote, with Minority Leader Cayetano saying he has a continuing objection to the move.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OJakRrxMfbA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><strong>PROSECUTION PROMISES EVIDENCE, DEFENSE QUESTIONS PROCEEDINGS</strong></div><p>In her opening statement as lead House prosecutor, Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro said the prosecution will present evidence of its allegations against Duterte, who has denied wrongdoing and has said the charges are politically motivated.</p><p>&quot;Mga dokumento na hindi bumoboto. Mga records na walang partido. Mga katotohanan na walang kulay pang politika,&quot; she said.</p><p>(Documents that cannot vote. Records that have no parties. Truths that have no political color.)</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"><strong>&#x27;Hindi socmed narrative&#x27;: Luistro says prosecution to show evidence, not rumors, in Duterte trial</strong><br/></a></div><p>Duterte faces charges she misused confidential funds, made grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family, amassed unexplained wealth, and bribed government officials.</p><p>Luistro said impeachment proceedings, which have been called a political exercise and a &quot;numbers game&quot;, are an accountability mechanism for public officials.</p><p>&quot;If an ordinary public servant can be investigated, then so can the highest officials of the government,&quot; she said.</p><p>The defense, meanwhile, maintained that the current impeachment case is little different from the 2025 impeachment of Duterte, which the Supreme Court eventually declared unconstitutional. </p><p><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/profile-who-is-duterte-s-lead-defense-counsel-sheila-sison-1822">Lead defense lawyer Sheila Sison</a> said House hearings earlier in the year to determine if complaints against Duterte were sufficient in form and in substance were a “fishing expedition” against Duterte, who plans to run for president in 2028.</p><p>“In that mini-trial, we saw how the purported pieces of evidence were curated to construct a narrative against the vice president even before this case reaches the trial,” she said.  </p><p>She said the Articles of Impeachment submitted to the Senate are “the product of an impermissible intrusion of clear constitutional boundaries.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/in-opening-statement-defense-raises-sc-ruling-vs-duterte-impeachment-in-2025-1701"><strong>In opening statement, defense raises SC ruling vs Duterte impeachment in 2025<br/></strong></a></div><p>Duterte had filed a petition at the Supreme Court to stop the House Committee on Justice from holding hearings on the impeachment complaints against her.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MiB5wybBMkA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>BOX OF TAX RECORDS TO BE SENT BACK TO BIR<br/></strong></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1783339327907HGgPAqSakAAg0IM.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p><strong></strong>With both parties done with opening statements, the impeachment court granted the prosecution&#x27;s proposal for witness disclosures three days befoe they testify.</p><p>It also said disclosures for witnesses not listed in pre-trial briefs must be done five days ahead as proposed by the defense.</p><p>Parties are to submit the list of their witnesses for each day of the following week on Wednesdays, or the last day of trial for the week.</p><p>The court also ruled that a maximum of two lawyers per party will be allowed to examine a witness &quot;only in highly exceptional instances.&quot; </p><p>A sealed box of tax records that the Bureau of Internal Revenue submitted to the House justice committee will meanwhile be sent back to the bureau, with the court saying it had not taken official custody of it.</p><p>The court can issue a subpoena for them later in the trial. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/6/impeachment-court-summons-nbi-agents-sends-back-bir-box-1818"><strong>Impeachment court summons NBI agents, sends back BIR box</strong><br/></a></div><p>The court has also approved prosecution requests to require two National Bureau of Investigation agents to testify but a request to subpoena bank and Anti-Money Laundering Council records is still subject to comment from the parties.</p><div><em>Trial resumes at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7.</em></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment rial began with a heated debate on whether the Senate impeachment court could elect a presiding officer other than Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, which senators opposed to it warned may cast doubt on proceedings.</p>

Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment rial began with a heated debate on whether the Senate impeachment court could elect a presiding officer other than Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, which senators opposed to it warned may cast doubt on proceedings.

WRAP: Sara Duterte impeachment trial opens with debate on presiding officer

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WRAP: Sara Duterte impeachment trial opens with debate on presiding officer

Jonathan de Santos,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 06, 2026 08:22 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Impeachment Trial

Alan Peter Cayetano

Sherwin Gatchalian

Francis Escudero

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