Camille Naredo

Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan, counsel for the panel of prosecutors, examines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilung on the second day of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on July 7, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan, counsel for the panel of prosecutors, examines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilung on the second day of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on July 7, 2026. House prosecutors presented evidence in relation to the fourth article of impeachment, which focuses on the death threats made by Duterte against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, and other actions seen as inciting to sedition.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Darylle Sarmiento

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178351791255220260708-senate-vp-sara-impeachment-day3-ligutan-MT1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan, counsel for the panel of prosecutors, examines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilung on the second day of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on July 7, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/>Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan, counsel for the panel of prosecutors, examines National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilung on the second day of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte at the Philippine Senate in Pasay City on July 7, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — Private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan emphasized that objections are a normal part of any trial, after clips of the prosecution and defense exchanging objections during Tuesday&#x27;s impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte gained traction online.Ligutan said that lawyers are expected to raise objections whenever they have valid legal grounds.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/7/multiple-defense-objections-get-blanked-on-lengthy-day-2-of-duterte-s-impeachment-trial-2018">READ: Multiple defense objections get blanked on lengthy Day 2 of Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial</a></div>“Objections, that’s part of the process. Objections, yung pag oobject sa mga tanong kung may basehan part yan, part yan. Yung mga abogado natin sa buong Pilipinas hindi na susurprise sa mga objections na yan,&quot; Ligutan said.He added that while counsel has a duty to object when necessary, it is ultimately up to the presiding judge to rule on those objections.“Yung tanong lang is ano yung tugon ng honorable judge,” Ligutan added.The remarks came after the third day of Vice President Duterte&#x27;s impeachment trial, which lasted about three hours.“I just did what I had to do, as a prosecutor, that’s what I did,” Ligutan said.Meanwhile, the defense panel began its cross-examination of the prosecution&#x27;s witness, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilung on Wednesday.Following the cross-examination, the prosecution waived its redirect examination.Citing the sub judice rule, Ligutan declined to comment further on the merits of the ongoing impeachment case.

Private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan emphasized that objections are a normal part of any trial after clips of the prosecution and defense exchanging objections during Tuesday's impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte gained traction online.

Private prosecutor Atty. Amando Ligutan emphasized that objections are a normal part of any trial after clips of the prosecution and defense exchanging objections during Tuesday's impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte gained traction online.

Atty. Ligutan says trial objections 'part of the process'

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Atty. Ligutan says trial objections 'part of the process'

Darylle Sarmiento,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 08, 2026 10:17 PM PHT

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Sara Duterte

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