The Philippine Senate formally constituted itself as an impeachment court on Monday, July 7, launching what is expected to be a lengthy and politically charged trial against Vice President Sara Duterte — a proceeding without precedent in the country's history. The trial is projected to span 92 session days, covering four distinct charges that range from the alleged misuse of public funds to an alleged threat against the sitting president.
Duterte was absent when the proceedings opened. Her legal counsel appeared in her place, and the impeachment court's spokesperson confirmed, according to Senate records, that she cannot be compelled to show up given her constitutional right against self-incrimination. Duterte has denied all accusations contained in the impeachment articles.
Four Charges at the Heart of the Trial
The impeachment complaint before the Senate lays out four Articles of Impeachment. These cover the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, constitutional violations, and betrayal of public trust — the last of which includes an alleged public threat against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The charges stem from a political falling-out between Duterte and Marcos, who ran together and won the 2022 national elections before their alliance publicly unraveled.
Escudero Named Presiding Officer After Heated Debate
Before substantive proceedings could begin, the Senate-sitting-as-impeachment-court had to settle a sharp internal dispute over who would preside. Senator Panfilo Lacson moved for a vote on a presiding officer, and Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero was subsequently elected to the role, with 12 senator-judges voting in favor and eight against.
The selection was not without controversy. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano argued that designating anyone other than the Senate President as presiding officer was constitutionally questionable and could potentially undermine the integrity of the trial. Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan took the opposing view, pointing out that Congress has the inherent authority to set its own procedures, that the Senate's rules were already amended during a special session on June 17, and that the Constitution does not specifically require the Senate President to preside when it is a vice president — rather than the president — on trial.
Escudero, for his part, clarified a critical arithmetic point: 16 affirmative votes from senator-judges are needed to convict — the two-thirds threshold established under the Constitution. That calculation is further complicated by the fact that three senators currently cannot participate in the proceedings.
Three Pro-Duterte Senators Removed from the Picture
The absence of three senators broadly seen as sympathetic to the Duterte camp significantly reshapes the numbers in the trial. Senator Jinggoy Estrada was arrested last month on a nonbailable plunder charge connected to an alleged flood-control bribery scheme and is serving a 90-day suspension. Senator Rodante Marcoleta was taken into custody just hours before the trial officially opened, also on a plunder charge, this one tied to allegedly undeclared campaign contributions.
Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, is believed to be in hiding, according to reports cited during the proceedings. His whereabouts have not been officially confirmed by Senate authorities.
Subpoenas Issued, Tax Documents Sealed on Day One
The impeachment court wasted no time in taking action on its opening day. According to court records, it denied a prosecution motion to proceed with Duterte's arraignment. A sealed box containing the income tax returns of Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, was ordered returned to the Bureau of Internal Revenue after the court ruled those documents had not yet been formally entered into evidence.
Subpoenas were issued to at least nine banks, directing them to submit financial records covering the period from 2006 to 2025 for both Duterte and Carpio. The court also summoned two officials from the National Bureau of Investigation — NBI-BARMM regional director Jeremy Lotoc and cyber agent John Mark Calilung — to appear and testify before the court.
Both the prosecution and defense panels agreed to exchange witness lists no fewer than five days before any scheduled testimony. The Senate's clerk of court will post approved motions, pleadings, and relevant records on a dedicated public-facing Senate website for transparency.
Prosecution: Trial Must Continue Even If Duterte Steps Down
The prosecution panel, led by Representative Gerville Luistro, stated it had sufficient evidence and witnesses to obtain a conviction. The panel also maintained that even a resignation by Duterte would not halt the proceedings, explaining that a conviction carries two separate penalties under Philippine law: removal from office and perpetual disqualification from holding any public position. A resignation, the prosecution argued, would only address the first penalty — leaving the question of permanent disqualification unresolved without a full trial and verdict.
Heavy Police Presence as Demonstrators Gather
Security around the Senate building in Pasay City was significantly heightened on the trial's opening day. Thousands of police officers were deployed, with anti-riot units placed on standby. Several hundred demonstrators gathered outside the compound, with many calling for Duterte's conviction. No major incidents were reported.
Political Stakes and the ICC Connection
The trial carries enormous political consequences. A guilty verdict would not only remove Duterte from the vice presidency but would permanently bar her from seeking the presidency in 2028, when President Marcos's term is constitutionally set to end. Duterte had publicly declared her intention to run for president in that election.
Adding further complexity to the proceedings, Duterte is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently being held at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The elder Duterte was transferred to ICC custody in connection with his administration's bloody anti-drug campaign, which resulted in thousands of deaths.
By the Numbers
- P612.5 million — confidential funds allegedly misused, as stated in the impeachment articles
- 92 trial days — the projected length of the impeachment proceedings
- 16 votes — the two-thirds threshold of senator-judge votes required for a conviction
- 12 vs. 8 — the vote count for and against Senator Escudero as presiding officer
- 3 senators — Duterte-aligned senators currently unable to participate in the trial
- 9 banks — financial institutions ordered via subpoena to produce records
- 2006–2025 — the period covered by the court's bank subpoenas
- 90 days — the suspension period imposed on Senator Estrada following his arrest
Why This Matters
This impeachment trial is a landmark event in Philippine constitutional history — the first time a sitting vice president has ever faced Senate trial, testing the durability and fairness of the country's impeachment mechanism under real political pressure. A conviction requiring 16 senator-judge votes would result in Duterte's permanent removal from public life, foreclosing her stated ambition to seek the presidency in 2028. The simultaneous legal troubles of three senators aligned with the Duterte bloc — each facing separate criminal charges — have already altered the political arithmetic of a trial expected to dominate Philippine politics for the remainder of the year.
Source: Originally reported by Balita / breakingnewsnegor.com