Camille Naredo

The Senate of the Philippines convene as an impeachment court on its second day of the trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

The Senate of the Philippines convene as an impeachment court on its second day of the trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. House prosecutors presented National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilong, who had conducted a forensic examination of a video of Vice President Sara Duterte uttering death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez on November 23, 2024.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<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/178353357555220260707-senate-vp-sara-impeachment-day2-MT15.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The Senate of the Philippines convene as an impeachment court on its second day of the trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Senate of the Philippines convene as an impeachment court on its second day of the trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA -- With the first three days garnering over one million views on the Senate&#x27;s YouTube livestream alone, it&#x27;s safe to say the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte has gained a sizable audience. </p><p>But a real audience watched events unfold inside the Senate session hall in real time, seeing senator-judges, prosecutors, and members of the defense team react to the proceedings. </p><p>So, what might online viewers have missed during the first week of the trial? </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>HOW DID SENATORS REACT WHEN MENTIONED?</strong></div><p>Duterte&#x27;s controversial statement on Senator Imee Marcos&#x27; father, former president Ferdinand Marcos, was mentioned multiple times during the trial on Tuesday.</p><p>National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilung quoted Duterte directly as saying, &quot;Hindi ko alam pero isang beses sinabihan ko talaga si Senator Imee. Sabi ko sa kaniya, &#x27;Kung hindi kayo tumigil, huhukayin ko &#x27;yung tatay niyo, itatapon ko siya sa West Philippine Sea.&#x27;&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/7/prosecution-110-pct-sure-sara-duterte-violated-constitution-in-slay-threat-vs-marcos-2042">Prosecution ‘110 pct sure’ Sara Duterte violated Constitution in slay threat vs Marcos</a></div><p>But the senator-judge simply smirked as Calilung said this.</p><p>A counsel for the respondent, Mark Vinluan, meanwhile, quoted Senator Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday.</p><p>&quot;In the discourse yesterday talking about VP Sara&#x27;s statements during the November 23, 2024 presscon, Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros stated, and I quote, &#x27;None of these statements are proof that the vice president actually contracted an assassin or hired one.&#x27; She is absolutely right,&quot; Vinluan said. </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</a></div><p>But Hontiveros&#x27; reaction revealed even less than Marcos&#x27;, as she mostly maintained a neutral expression while listening. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>SENATOR-JUDGES&#x27; INTERACTIONS</strong><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/178353354253120260707-senate-vp-sara-impeachment-day2-MT8.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="The Senate of the Philippines convene as an impeachment court on its second day of the trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Senate of the Philippines convene as an impeachment court on its second day of the trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on Tuesday, July 7, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></strong></div><p>Netizens have produced their fair share of posts reacting to the trial proceedings, some even theorizing that senator-judges were communicating through their phones.</p><p>While the media was not privy to the contents of the senators&#x27; whispered conversations and huddles, journalists could see who was chatting up whom.</p><p>Despite recent tensions at the Senate, which even led to a walkout at some point, there were plenty of interactions between senators from the majority and the minority.</p><p>While the trial was suspended on Monday, Senators Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda, and Sherwin Gatchalian spoke to one another. </p><p>But the difference between the two blocs still seemed clear at various points.</p><p>During a brief recess on Tuesday after the defense said they intended to present the entirety of a 2-hour video during cross-examination, members of the majority were seen gathering together, as well as the senators from the minority. </p><div><a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/8/wrap-clips-context-and-questions-on-competence-close-first-week-of-impeachment-trial-2213">WRAP: Clips, &#x27;context&#x27;, and questions on competence close first week of impeachment trial</a></div><p>For the former, Senators Francis Pangilinan, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Gatchalian, Escudero, Vicente Sotto III, Panfilo Lacson, and Risa Hontiveros were seen speaking. </p><p>As for the latter, Senators Mark Villar, Joel Villanueva, Robin Padilla, and Marcos had their own huddle as well. </p><p>And while this took place, nuns watching from the sidelines were seen approaching the prosecutors, speaking with ML party-list Representative Leila de Lima and Akbayan party-list Representative Chel Diokno. </p><p>Those on the side of the prosecution and the defense also spoke to one another after adjournment on Wednesday.</p><p>Counsel for the prosecutors Attorney Amando Ligutan and Duterte&#x27;s lawyer, Attorney Michael Poa, were seen talking after wrapping up their discussions. </p>

<p>With the first three days garnering over one million views on the Senate's YouTube livestream alone, it's safe to say the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte has gained a sizable audience.</p>

With the first three days garnering over one million views on the Senate's YouTube livestream alone, it's safe to say the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte has gained a sizable audience.

Inside the session hall: The first 3 days of VP Duterte's impeachment trial

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Inside the session hall: The first 3 days of VP Duterte's impeachment trial

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 09, 2026 02:00 AM PHT

Read More:

Philippine Senate

impeachment court

Sara Duterte

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