For the first time in Philippine history, a sitting vice president stood at the center of a Senate impeachment trial when the chamber convened as an impeachment court on Monday, July 6, in Pasay City. The historic proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte are projected to stretch across 92 trial days, setting up what could become one of the most consequential political trials the country has seen.
Duterte herself was absent from the opening session. Her legal team appeared in her place, and the impeachment court’s spokesperson confirmed to reporters that she cannot be forced to attend, citing her constitutional right against self-incrimination. The vice president has denied every accusation leveled against her.
Four Charges at the Heart of the Trial
The Senate impeachment court will deliberate on four Articles of Impeachment, which collectively cover allegations of misusing P612.5 million in confidential funds, accumulating unexplained wealth, committing constitutional violations, and betrayal of public trust. Among the most politically charged accusations is an alleged public threat directed at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with whom Duterte once ran as a tandem in the 2022 national elections before their partnership unraveled into a bitter and public rivalry.
The prosecution panel, headed by Representative Gerville Luistro, declared it already holds sufficient evidence and witnesses to secure a conviction, according to a statement made on opening day. Luistro’s team also argued that the trial must continue even in the event that Duterte resigns, pointing out that conviction carries two distinct penalties — removal from office and permanent disqualification from holding any future public position. A resignation, they maintained, would only address the first.
Escudero Chosen as Presiding Officer After Heated Debate
Before the proceedings could begin in earnest, senators clashed over a fundamental procedural question: who should preside. Senator Panfilo Lacson moved for the election of a presiding officer, and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero was ultimately chosen for the role, with 12 senator-judges voting in favor and eight opposed.
The vote did not come without controversy. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano raised constitutional objections, arguing that placing anyone other than the Senate President in the presiding chair was legally flawed and could undermine the legitimacy of the entire proceeding. Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan pushed back, asserting that Congress holds the authority to set its own rules of procedure. Pangilinan pointed to an amendment passed during a special session on June 17 and argued that the Constitution does not explicitly require the Senate President to preside over a vice presidential impeachment trial.
Escudero, for his part, clarified the critical arithmetic facing both sides: 16 affirmative votes — representing a two-thirds threshold among senator-judges — are required to convict. That number becomes even more significant given that three senators currently cannot take part in the proceedings.
Three Duterte-Aligned Senators Kept Out of the Trial
The absence of three senators widely regarded as sympathetic to the Duterte camp is reshaping the political math of the trial. Senator Jinggoy Estrada was arrested last month on a nonbailable plunder charge stemming from an alleged flood-control bribery scheme and has since been placed under a 90-day suspension. Senator Rodante Marcoleta was arrested just hours before the trial formally opened, also on a plunder charge involving allegedly undeclared campaign contributions.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, is reported to be in hiding and has not participated in Senate proceedings. With these three absent, the dynamics of reaching — or blocking — the 16-vote conviction threshold shift considerably.
Banks Subpoenaed, Tax Documents Sealed on Day One
The impeachment court wasted no time in issuing orders on its first day. It denied the prosecution’s motion to arraign Duterte. It also ruled that a sealed box containing the income tax returns of Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, be returned to the Bureau of Internal Revenue on the grounds that the documents had not yet been formally entered into evidence.
More significantly, the court issued subpoenas to at least nine banks, directing them to produce financial records covering the period from 2006 to 2025 for the couple. The court also summoned two National Bureau of Investigation officials — NBI-BARMM regional director Jeremy Lotoc and cyber agent John Mark Calilung — to appear and testify before the court.
Both the prosecution and defense agreed to exchange witness lists no later than five days before any scheduled testimony. The Senate’s clerk of court will maintain a dedicated public-facing webpage where approved motions, pleadings, and official records will be published for transparency.
Tight Security as Crowds Gather Outside the Senate
Law enforcement deployed thousands of police officers around the Senate complex on opening day, with anti-riot units kept on standby. Several hundred demonstrators assembled outside the building, calling for Duterte’s conviction. No major incidents were reported.
What a Conviction Would Mean for 2028
Beyond the immediate legal consequences, the trial carries enormous political stakes. Duterte has publicly announced her intention to run for president in 2028, when President Marcos’s term is constitutionally set to expire. A conviction by the Senate would bar her from that race — and from holding any public office ever again.
Duterte is also the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who is currently detained at the International Criminal Court facility in The Hague in connection with his administration’s deadly anti-drug campaign. The family faces legal pressure on multiple fronts, domestic and international.
By the Numbers
- P612.5 million — the amount in confidential funds allegedly misused, as stated in the Articles of Impeachment
- 92 trial days — expected duration of the full impeachment proceedings
- 16 votes — the two-thirds threshold among senator-judges needed to convict
- 12 vs. 8 — the senator-judge vote tally for and against Escudero’s election as presiding officer
- 3 senators — Duterte-aligned senator-judges currently unable to participate
- 9 banks — financial institutions served with subpoenas to produce records
- 2006–2025 — the time range covered by the bank subpoenas for financial documents
- 90 days — the suspension term imposed on Senator Estrada after his arrest
Why This Matters
The opening of Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial represents the first time in Philippine constitutional history that a sitting vice president has faced removal proceedings before the Senate, setting a significant legal and democratic precedent. Should 16 senator-judges vote to convict, she would be immediately removed from office and permanently barred from seeking the presidency in 2028 or holding any other public post — a sweeping consequence that makes the outcome of these proceedings far-reaching. The ongoing legal troubles of three Duterte-aligned senators, each facing separate criminal charges, have already altered the voting landscape and will continue to influence the trial’s political dynamics throughout its projected 92-day run.
Source: Breaking News Negros Oriental / Senate of the Philippines official proceedings
