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. These 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. Wendell D. Alinea, Senate Social Media Unit

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VP Sara Impeachment

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<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/178349204182420260706-senate-vp-sara-impeachment-day1-SSMU-WA-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">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.<em> Wendell D. Alinea, Senate Social Media Unit </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, impeachment court presiding officer, warned members of the prosecution and defense teams against making concluding remarks during the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.</p><p>The warning was prompted by statements by Atty. Amando Ligutan, counsel for the prosecutors, on Tuesday that Escudero said were premature and that Sen. Pia Cayetano said sounded like a closing statement.</p><p>“The presiding officer will not tolerate such perorations again by either party even if it is in response to a question from a senator-judge,” Escudero said on the third day of the trial.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/sara-duterte-impeachment-trial">Impeachment Trial of Sara Duterte </a></div><p>He added he “will try to remind as best as we can, senator-judges to let the witnesses present the evidence of both parties instead of the counsels presenting both facts and law through their statements.”</p><p>Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano also reminded his colleagues to “stop ourselves from asking certain questions that can prejudice the whole trial, whether or not our intention is to do so.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/7/wrap-prosecution-presents-videos-nbi-agent-on-duterte-s-alleged-threats-vs-marcos-2126">WRAP: Prosecution presents videos, NBI agent on Duterte’s alleged threats vs. Marcos<br/></a></div><p>The issue stemmed from Hontiveros’ question to the prosecution on Tuesday after witness National Bureau of Investigation Senior Agent John Mark Calilung testified on videos of Duterte’s alleged threats to the president’s life. </p><p>“Why are these acts impeachable?” Hontiveros said.</p><p>Escudero said that after cross-examination, the defense will be given five minutes and 18 seconds to explain its side, the exact time the prosecution spent answering the question.</p><p>Sen. Pia Cayetano, who likened the court to a basketball game, stressed that rules are necessary to ensure a “decent” court.</p><p>“Why are we being strict about the rules? Why do I have to bother standing up? Well, because nothing in this world will run well without the rules,” she said.</p><p>“Sometimes, there are also opportunities to question the rules, but that’s also fine. That’s why we have to stand up and call the attention of the presiding officer when we feel that the rules are being violated. And we will continue to do so when we believe it is necessary in the interest of justice,” she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/8/live-updates-vice-president-sara-duterte-s-impeachment-trial-day-3-1315">LIVE UPDATES: Vice President Sara Duterte&#x27;s Impeachment Trial (Day 3) </a></div><p>The Senate trial court is tackling the fourth article of impeachment, which accuses the vice president of arranging an assassination plot against Marcos Jr. and his family, grave threats, and inciting sedition.</p><p>Calilung is set to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/8/impeachment-day-3-defense-to-strike-back-during-cross-examination-0930">undergo questioning by the defense </a>on its third day.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/7/-i-do-not-think-it-was-fair-hontiveros-pia-cayetano-clash-over-improper-trial-question-1811">&#x27;I do not think it was fair&#x27;: Hontiveros, Pia Cayetano clash over ‘improper’ trial question</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/8/israelito-torreon-calls-escudero-election-constitutional-aberration-1435">Israelito Torreon calls Escudero election &#x27;constitutional aberration&#x27; </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/8/sara-duterte-as-hostile-witness-law-experts-react-1054">VP Sara as hostile witness? Law experts react </a></div><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/tPborQsl9AQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><br/></div>

<p>Senate trial Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero warned members of the prosecution and defense teams against making concluding remarks during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.</p>

Senate trial Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero warned members of the prosecution and defense teams against making concluding remarks during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Escudero warns prosecution, defense against making 'concluding remarks'

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Escudero warns prosecution, defense against making 'concluding remarks'

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 08, 2026 02:42 PM PHT

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Updated July 08, 2026 02:59 PM PHT

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Sara Duterte

impeachment trial

Chiz Escudero

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