Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

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/178771331101120260824-senate-vp-sara-impeachment-day17-MT10.jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Day 17 of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on Monday, August 24, 2026. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATE</strong>) — Trial presiding officer Francis Escudero on Wednesday said that the Senate impeachment court would strictly enforce the sub judice rule, which bars counsels for both parties from discussing the merits of an ongoing case.</p><p>Rule 18 of the Senate Rules of Impeachment prohibits even the respondent Vice President Sara Duterte and the senator-judges from making comments on the merits of the impeachment case. </p><p>&quot;From this point forward... Rule 18 shall be strictly enforced, and be given full force in effect,&quot; Escudero said.</p><p>&quot;Accordingly, the chair hereby strictly enjoins all persons covered by Rule 18 — you know who you are, and based on the records, we know who you are — from making public statements, or otherwise discussing, sharing, or endorsing comments pertaining to the merits of this pending impeachment trial, and from engaging in trial by publicity,&quot; Escudero said.</p><p>He stressed that such statements &quot;directly threaten the independence of the court, degrade the dignity of the tribunal, and risk turning it into a circus and weaponize the media to substitute public outrage... for actual evidence.&quot;</p><p>Escudero again reminded parties to the case to designate a spokesperson that would not also act as a counsel in the trial, noting that some potential violations to the sub judice rule occurred after his <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/22/escudero-to-defense-prosecution-appoint-spox-who-won-t-double-as-counsel-1808">advice</a>.</p><p>&quot;Since that advice has not been fully observed, the chair now finds it necessary to restate and strictly enforce those restrictions,&quot; he said.</p><p>He deemed such arrangement necessary so that &quot;appropriate communications may be made within the limits prescribed by the rules.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Clearly, up to today, the spokesperson[s] of both parties are still part of the counsel for the parties. Some with more violations than others. So without enumerating the counsels where this rule applies, I think you know who you are, given the entries of appearance we&#x27;ve already made,&quot; said Escudero.</p><p>&quot;These restrictions apply with particular force, not only to counsel for the parties, but also to us, senator judges, and all other persons whose public statements are governed by Rule 18.&quot;</p><div> </div><div><strong>EXAMPLES</strong></div><div> </div><p>In his ruling, Escudero called out previous statements and cited them as examples of publicly discussing the merits of the impeachment case.</p><p>“Hindi naman pinag-uusapan dito ‘yung kontrata. Pinag-uusapan dito ‘yung banta. ‘Yung banta. Nakita n’yo sa video mag nagbanta talaga at si Vice President ‘yon, hindi ba?” he quoted a prosecution lawyer, whom he did not name.</p><p>Escudero noted that the remark would not have been a problem if it was stated by a spokesperson.</p><p>“But this was stated by a counsel of record. More specifically, one of the counsels for the private prosecutors,” he said.</p><div><br/></div><p>Here are other statements that Escudero cited in his ruling, but again did not name any speaker:</p><p>— “Meron ba talagang kinausap na mamamatay tao? Meron ba talagang mamamatay tao? Napakaliwanag na ho sa sagot diyan: meron. Ano ho ang pruweba natin? ‘Yung tinatawag na admission against interest ng Vice President.”</p><p>— “Since na-establish na namin ‘yung hinahanap namin doon sa talagang tatlong testigo lamang, finorgo na namin ‘yung ibang mga testigo na-establish na namin ang gusto naming i-establish sa Article 4.”</p><p>— “Itong mga bank records, bank records don’t lie. Hindi na ho ito ma-spin. ‘Yan at sabihin gawa-gawa lang ng prosecution ng gobyerno itong mga usapin ng unexplained wealth ng Vice President.”</p><p>— “It is clear that the Vice President had a direct hand on this. She signed off it. No not just the use but the way it was liquidated.”</p><p>— “‘Yun pong binabanggit ni Atty. Kapunan na scam ‘yun pa rin ho ‘yon. Pagtingin ho namin nailantad ngayong araw na ito ‘yung pagiging scam, iskandalo nitong confidential fund misuse.&quot;</p><div> </div><p>House prosecutors previously urged Escudero to enforce the rule barring parties and counsels from publicly discussing the merits of an ongoing case after senator-judge Pia Cayetano posted a spliced video of her exchange with House prosecutor Chel Diokno and after Duterte herself made a comment about the proceedings.</p><p>The defense had meanwhile asked counsel for the prosecutors Lorna Kapunan to show respect to a fellow lawyer while also calling out a Facebook post of private prosecutor Amando Virgil Ligutan about misleading questions. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/25/-scam-remark-again-stricken-from-record-as-prosecution-questions-vp-duterte-s-confidential-funds-1545">‘Scam’ remark again stricken from record as prosecution questions VP Duterte’s confidential funds</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2026/8/25/duterte-masterminded-confidential-fund-scam-prosecution-maintains-1936">Duterte ‘masterminded’ confidential fund ‘scam’, prosecution maintains after defense raises decorum issue</a></div><div><strong>—With a report from David Dizon, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>WATCH:</strong></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/foqMBjPyZe8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Trial presiding officer Francis Escudero on Wednesday said that the Senate impeachment court would strictly enforce the sub judice rule, which bars court participants from discussing the merits of an ongoing case.</p>

Trial presiding officer Francis Escudero on Wednesday said that the Senate impeachment court would strictly enforce the sub judice rule, which bars court participants from discussing the merits of an ongoing case.

Impeachment court to 'strictly enforce' sub judice rule vs 'trial by publicity'

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Impeachment court to 'strictly enforce' sub judice rule vs 'trial by publicity'

ABS-CBN News

Published August 26, 2026 11:03 AM PHT

|

Updated August 26, 2026 04:51 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Impeachment Trial

Senate Trial

Sara Duterte Trial

Senate

Impeachment

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

Haven't received our newsletter?

Check your inbox to verify and confirm your subscription. If you don’t see it, please check your spam or junk folder.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.