Jamaine Punzalan

Vice President Sara Duterte arrives at the Senate on the second day of the impeachment trial, July 7, 2026.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

VP Sara Impeachment

Jervis Manahan

Harlene Delgado

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/178771230909120260707-senate-impeachment-sara-diuterte-MT3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte arrives at the Senate on the second day of the impeachment trial, July 7, 2026.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said the impeachment prosecutors should prove the case against her “with evidence—not insults, speculation or political theatrics.” </p><p>Duterte asserted that a strong case “does not need the adornment of theatrics” after several instances when counsel to the prosecutors referred to the confidential fund issue as a &quot;scam&quot; and tagged Duterte as the &quot;mastermind&quot;.</p><p>“A Senator calling a witness ‘stupid,’ a lawyer calling me the ‘mastermind of a scam’ or another witness referring to me as a ‘brat’ does not prove a case, nor does it produce evidence,” the Vice President said in a statement. </p><p>“Insults reveal the need to feign confidence in the face of a weak presentation,” she added. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/sara-duterte-impeachment-trial">Impeachment Trial of Sara Duterte </a></div><p>She said prosecutors and members of Congress who wanted to “legitimize” the impeachment complaints, which she said were “filed without a shred of evidence”, should “not be fishing for evidence during the trial or desperately try to turn something they wish to be true into a wild story of alleged wrongdoing.” </p><p>Addressing the public, Duterte added: “Mga kababayan, lubog na ang bansa sa baha at kahirapan, pero tila walang mananagot, dahil ang impeachment, ang paghati-hatian ang 2027 budget, at ang paghahanda kung papaano baliin ang Constitution para manatili sa puwesto ang prayoridad ng administrasyon at lahat ng kaalyado nito.” </p><p>Duterte’s trial on Wednesday continued with a reminder from presiding officer Francis Escudero for his fellow senator-judges to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/26/escudero-reminds-senator-judges-to-remain-impartial-in-sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-1036">remain impartial. </a></p><p>He added that <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/13/sub-judice-other-impeachment-rules-should-be-applied-equally-1649">Rule 18</a>, prohibiting participants from making comments about the case’s merits, would be strictly enforced to avoid a “trial by publicity.”<span style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"> </span></p><p>Meanwhile, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro argued that the allegations against Duterte were backed up by evidence, citing the testimony of OVP Assistant Chief-of-Staff Lemuel Ortonio on Tuesday that the Vice President, based on their office order, in effect approved the withdrawal and payment of the confidential funds for 2022 and 2023. </p><p>“So, ito naman po ay nagpapakita ng ebidensiya, hindi lang mga ad hominem na mga pananalita. So, mas maganda rin po na kung ayaw makarinig ng ad hominem, mag-start din po sa mga taong nagsasalita ng masasamang, worst o mga masasamang mga pag-describe sa kapwa tao,” Castro said in a press briefing. </p><p>“Siguro dapat magsimula kay Bise Presidente na maging magalang din sa pananalita para hindi rin naibabalik sa kanya,” she added.  </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/26/only-vp-duterte-ex-security-head-lachica-knew-how-confidential-funds-were-spent-witness-1319">Only VP Duterte, ex-security head Lachica knew how confi funds were spent — witness </a></div><p>But asked about her personal view, Castro said as a lawyer, the words “mastermind” and “scam” should not be used to accuse any person sans proof.</p><p>“Pero you can use that in some other ways nang wala kang pinapatamaan in particular na tao. Kasi ako gagamitin ko rin naman iyong salitang sindikato, mastermind, pero not particularly sa isang tao,” she said. </p><p>She urged the Vice President to follow the 2027 national budget proceedings, especially the bicameral conference, in response to her allegations on the budget. </p><p>“At ang paghahanda kung paano baliin ang konstitusyon, sa ngayon po ang proceedings ay naaayon sa konstitusyon at ito ay parte ng probisyon ng Saligang Batas upang mapanagot ang dapat na managot. Kung may kasalanan dapat na mahatulan,” Castro said. </p><p>“So siguro mas maganda sa ating Bise Presidente na aralin niya po lahat para hindi bumalik sa kanya iyong mga ibinibintang niya sa administrasyon, kasi mas mainam na mas malinis po niya at mapatunayan na ang kanyang opisina ay walang ginawang anumang anomalya,” she added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/26/padilla-likens-mary-grace-piattos-other-ovp-fund-recipients-to-national-heroes-1510">Padilla likens &#x27;Mary Grace Piattos&#x27;, other OVP fund recipients to national heroes</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/26/impeachment-court-to-strictly-enforce-sub-judice-rule-vs-trial-by-publicity-1103">Impeachment court to &#x27;strictly enforce&#x27; sub judice rule vs &#x27;trial by publicity&#x27;</a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/26/escudero-reminds-senator-judges-to-remain-impartial-in-sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-1036">Escudero reminds senator-judges to remain impartial in VP Sara impeachment trial</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/foqMBjPyZe8?&amp;pp=0gcJCRMMAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said the impeachment case against her should be proven “with evidence—not insults, speculation or political theatrics.” </p>

Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday said the impeachment case against her should be proven “with evidence—not insults, speculation or political theatrics.”

Sara Duterte: Prove impeachment case ‘with evidence, not insults’

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Nation

Sara Duterte: Prove impeachment case ‘with evidence, not insults’

Jervis Manahan,

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 26, 2026 10:45 AM PHT

|

Updated August 26, 2026 03:47 PM PHT

Read More:

Sara Duterte

Duterte

Duterte impeachment

impeachment

House of Representatives

Senate

Senate impeachment trial

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.