Jonathan Frederic De Santos

The Senate of the Philippines sits as an impeachment court for the third day of the trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on July 8, 2026. Defense counsel Atty. Carlo Joaquin Narvasa cross-examined National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Agent John Mark Calilung, who analyzed the November 23, 2024 video where the Vice President allegedly made death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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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/1783517418195viber_image_2026-07-08_16-23-59-339.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Senate of the Philippines sits as an impeachment court for the third day of the trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on July 8, 2026. Defense counsel Atty. Carlo Joaquin Narvasa cross-examined National Bureau of Investigation Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, who analyzed the November 23, 2024 video where the vice president allegedly made death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The defense in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte played a portion of her November 2024 streamed press conference they said put the alleged threats she made against the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family in context.</p><p>Duterte&#x27;s counsel also argued that videos shown at the trial so far do not show she arranged to have Marcos, his wife, and his cousin killed and, at any rate, the allegation does not warrant impeachment and potential removal from office.</p><p>On Day 3 of the trial, video showing Duterte&#x27;s chief of staff Zuleika Lopez in distress was shown as defense lawyer Carlo Joaquin Narvasa cross-examined John Mark Calilung, the senior agent of the National Bureau of Investigation who authenticated and investigated the video, which runs for more than two hours.</p><p>A House panel had cited Lopez in contempt during hearings in 2024 into the use of confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President and of the Department of Education. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/7/defense-wants-whole-2-hour-duterte-video-shown-1652">Duterte defense wants prosecution to show 2-hour video; Escudero says court won&#x27;t interfere<br/></a></div><p>The panel had ordered Lopez&#x27;s transfer to the Correctional Institute for Women in Mandaluyong, sparking tension at the House and leading to the streamed video.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>DEFENSE&#x27;S &#x27;CONTEXT&#x27; OF ALLEGED THREATS</strong></div><p>Asked by Sen. Risa Hontiveros if the defense was trying to establish that the alleged threats were a response to Lopez&#x27;s situation, Narvasa answered in the affirmative.</p><p>He also said &quot;there was a systematic oppression made by the House of Representatives.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/8/defense-no-proof-duterte-contracted-an-assassin-1749">Defense: No proof Duterte contracted an assassin<br/></a></div><p>Speaking later in the trial, defense counsel Mark Vinluan said the video contains “no proof of any contracting of an assassin.”</p><p>“Trying to prove this stretched narrative using a hodgepodge of materials is a waste of this honorable court&#x27;s time and the Filipino people&#x27;s money,” he also said.</p><p>Presiding officer Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero had given the defense time to argue whether the alleged threats were an impeachable offense.</p><p>This was a gesture of fairness after Atty. Amando Ligutan said that they, and the alleged contracting of an &quot;assassin&quot; was a betrayal of public trust and warranted impeachment.</p><p>“She didn’t commit an impeachable offense. She drew the line in the sand and said &#x27;enough is enough&#x27;. That is the meaning and that is the context,” Vinluan said, adding the matter should instead have been brought to a criminal court.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/8/impeachment-court-to-summon-sara-duterte-s-chief-of-staff-zuleika-lopez-to-trial-next-week-2020">Impeachment court to summon Sara Duterte’s chief of staff Zuleika Lopez to trial next week<br/></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>VIDEO AUTHENTICITY AND NBI AGENT&#x27;S QUALIFICATIONS </strong></div><p>Calilung, on his second day on the stand, also fielded questions from the defense and from senator-judges on whether the video being presented is authentic and how he knows it is.</p><p>He said that he compared that video that he screen-recorded to the source video that had been streamed online.</p><p>He also said that while AI can generate videos, Meta parent Facebook requires disclosure of AI use and that most AI-generated content have watermarks. </p><p>Calilung added the November 2024 video was much longer than typical AI-generated videos.</p><p>The video, a Zoom call that had journalists in attendance, was streamed on Duterte ally Harry Roque&#x27;s Facebook page.</p><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/Hpip5HBcIkk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Sen. Robinhood Padilla at one point asked Calilung if he had talked to and secured an affidavit from the person who recorded the video, prompting the NBI agent to clarify that he is that person.</p><p>Padilla said he was asking about the raw video but ultimately did not pursue the question.</p><p>He later asked Calilung to submit his qualifications to the impeachment court.</p><p>Narvasa had also pointed to agent&#x27;s &quot;whopping two weeks&quot; of training, but that was for the specific digital forensic tool. Calilung has been with the NBI since 2021 and has had other training at his job. </p><p>Speaking at a press briefing after trial, defense counsel Michael Poa said the defense had asked questions of Calilung and about the video to establish that it was the correct one.</p><p>&quot;Wala tayong alegasyon na may binago... kailangan lang masigurado na authenticated yung video, ano ba yung source ng video nila?&quot; he said, adding they want to make sure it matches what was streamed.</p><p>(We are not alleging the video has been tampered... we just need to make sure that the video was authenticated. What was the source of their video?)</p><p>He added: &quot;In every cross, we always test the credibility of the witness... that&#x27;s just part of it.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>AQUINO ASKS PARTIES TO &#x27;GO STRAIGHT TO THE POINT&#x27;</strong></div><p>As the first week of trial wrapped up, Sen. Bam Aquino appealed to parties to try for smoother proceedings. </p><p>&quot;<a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/8/bam-aquino-appeals-to-defense-prosecution-let-s-go-straight-to-the-point-1745">If possible, can we allow the testimonies to be heard, can we have proceedings that will go straight to the point</a>, kasi nanonood ang taumbayan (because the people are watching)?&quot; Aquino said.</p><p>He said the senator-judges — majority of whom are not lawyers — also want to see the evidence that the parties will present.</p><p>Escudero reassured Aquino that the hearings would speed up in the coming days, as both parties get used to the process.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" 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<br/></a></div><p>While impeachment proceedings are unique, Escudero also reminded parties and his colleagues that they have rules similar to court proceedings.</p><p>Earlier in the hearing, he cautioned the prosecution and the defense to stick to presenting evidence.</p><p>He said they should not make conclusions &quot;<a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/8/escudero-warns-prosecution-defense-against-making-concluding-remarks-1442">even if it is in response to a question from a senator-judge</a>&quot; — Hontiveros, in two instances.</p><p>Senate Minority Leader 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.&quot; <strong>— Jonathan de Santos, ABS-CBN News</strong></p>

<p>The defense in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte played a portion of her November 2024 streamed press conference they said put the alleged threats she made against the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family in context.</p>

The defense in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte played a portion of her November 2024 streamed press conference they said put the alleged threats she made against the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family in context.

WRAP: Clips, 'context', and questions on competence close first week of impeachment trial

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WRAP: Clips, 'context', and questions on competence close first week of impeachment trial

ABS-CBN News

Published July 08, 2026 10:13 PM PHT

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Updated July 09, 2026 02:04 AM PHT

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Sara Duterte

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