Camille Naredo

Senator-judges examine witness testimony on the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education’s (DepEd) as the Senate impeachment court convened for Day 15 of the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Joseph Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit

Senator-judges examine witness testimony on the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education’s (DepEd) as the Senate impeachment court convened for Day 15 of the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

State auditor Xylene Del Campo faced cross-examination by the defense panel in relation to the findings and evaluation of the Commission on Audit Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office (COA-ICFAO) of Duterte’s confidential fund liquidation.
Following the cross-examination, the senator-judges asked Del Campo key clarificatory questions regarding the audit findings.

Joseph Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

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/178676364215520260812-senate-impeachment-day15-SSMU-JV26.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Senator-judges examine witness testimony on the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education’s (DepEd) as the Senate impeachment court convened for Day 15 of the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Joseph Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senator-judges examine witness testimony on the confidential funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education’s (DepEd) as the Senate impeachment court convened for Day 15 of the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. <em>Joseph Vidal, Senate Social Media Unit</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA – House impeachment prosecutor Rep. Joel Chua appealed to the Senate impeachment court not to impose restrictions that would prevent both prosecutors and defense lawyers from explaining developments in the proceedings to the public, warning that such a move could fuel misinformation.</p><p>Chua on Saturday said he hoped Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who presides over the impeachment court, would give both parties “flexibility” in discussing the case because of its significant public interest.</p><p>“Sa aking paniniwala ay sana mabigyan ng flexibility ang ating prosecution saka ang defense dahil ang usapaping dito ay imbued with public interest. Kaya nararapat lamang na ang mga kababayan natin ay maunawaan kung ano talaga ang nangyayari sa loob ng impeachment trial,” Chua said in a DZMM interview.</p><p>He said he feared that preventing members of the prosecution and defense from speaking publicly after hearings would amount to censorship.</p><p>“Sana ay wag naman kaming i-censor dahil kung ganoon ang mangyayari, paaano na ang mga kababayan nating sumusubaybay dito?” he said. </p><p>Escudero earlier said he would issue a ruling after some lawyers from both the prosecution and defense allegedly discussed the merits of the impeachment case outside the courtroom, raising concerns over possible violations of the sub judice rule.</p><p>The rule generally prohibits parties from making public statements that could influence or prejudice pending judicial proceedings.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/13/sub-judice-other-impeachment-rules-should-be-applied-equally-1649"><strong>Sub judice rule should be applied equally, including Sara Duterte, senator-judges — Prosecution</strong></a></div><p>Chua acknowledged that the rule is commonly observed in courts to preserve the integrity of proceedings, but argued that impeachment differs from ordinary criminal or civil cases because it involves determining whether an impeachable public official remains fit to stay in office.</p><p>“Normally, ang sub judice ay pinagbabawalan ang both parties, hindi lang ang isang partido, na magbigay ng komento patungkol sa merito ng kaso nang sa gayon hndi napre-prejudge kung anoman ang hatol ng judge at ma-preserve ang integrity ng hearing,” he said. </p><p>He argued that limiting public statements from lawyers directly involved in the case would make it harder to combat misinformation, particularly because many Filipinos cannot watch the proceedings live.</p><p>Instead of imposing a gag order, Chua said the impeachment court should focus on stopping the spread of misinformation.</p><p>“Itong impeachment, kaya ito ginagawa ay para makita kung talagang fit pa sila na nagsilbi sa kanilang posisyon. Ngayon, kung i-gagag order o titigilan naman kami sa pagpapaliwanag sa ating kababayan, ano namang laban namin sa fake news?” he said. </p><p>Escudero on Wednesday announced that the Senate impeachment court would tackle possible violations of the sub judice rule after lawyers from both the prosecution and defense made public statements and social media posts commenting on issues raised during the trial.</p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/13/impeach-court-spox-explains-penalties-vs-lawyers-who-violate-sub-judice-rule-1603"><strong>Impeach court spox explains penalties vs lawyers who violate sub judice rule</strong></a></div><p>This came after defense lawyer Sheila Sison questioned on the Senate floor a Facebook post made by prosecutor Amando Ligutan regarding misleading questions during witness examination. </p><p>In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Ligutan said, &quot;A principle ALL lawyers and law students know by heart: Misleading questions are NOT allowed even on cross-examination.” </p><div><a class="fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/12/sheila-sison-castigates-amando-ligutan-over-socmed-post-on-misleading-questions-1736"><strong>&#x27;We will not have this&#x27;: Sheila Sison castigates Amando Ligutan over socmed post on &#x27;misleading questions&#x27;</strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;PROFESSIONALISM&#x27;</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian insisted that the impeachment court does not seek to &quot;censor&quot; either the defense or the prosecution.</p><p>&quot;Ang pakiusap ng korte ay maging professional sa kanilang conduct in the court and outside of the court,&quot; he said in a separate DZMM interview.</p><p>Gatchalian also expressed his hope that both sides will avoid what he called &quot;side comments&quot; and instead &quot;stick to the issues,&quot; as he noted that the side comments only serve as theatrics or entertainment.</p><p>&quot;Eh hindi naman ito entertainment,&quot; he said. &quot;Trial ito ng isang seryosong kaso. &#x27;Yung entertainment, dapat &#x27;wag na natin isali &#x27;yan sa trial.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong></strong><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><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/N4MalKxz78c?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>House impeachment prosecutor Rep. Joel Chua appealed to the Senate impeachment court not to impose restrictions that would prevent both prosecutors and defense lawyers from explaining developments in the proceedings to the public, warning that such a move could fuel misinformation.</p>

House impeachment prosecutor Rep. Joel Chua appealed to the Senate impeachment court not to impose restrictions that would prevent both prosecutors and defense lawyers from explaining developments in the proceedings to the public, warning that such a move could fuel misinformation.

House prosecutor urges Senate not to ‘censor’ impeachment trial lawyers over sub judice rule

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House prosecutor urges Senate not to ‘censor’ impeachment trial lawyers over sub judice rule

Chalssea Kate Echegoyen,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 15, 2026 11:26 AM PHT

|

Updated August 15, 2026 11:46 AM PHT

Read More:

Vice President Sara Duterte

Impeachment trial

Chiz Escudero

Senate

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