MANILA — The Senate court will launch the historic trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday afternoon, July 6, nearly two months since her second impeachment at the House of Representatives.
This marks the first time that the Philippines' second-highest official will stand trial before senator-judges and the first impeachment trial of any public officer in 14 years.
The trial, expected to last for up to 8 months, is seen to be consequential for the political career of Duterte, 48, who announced her intention to run for president in February this year.
In addition to being removed from her post, Duterte's possible conviction may also carry the permanent ban from holding any public office.
Impeachment prosecutors alleged that the Vice President misused her P612.5 million confidential funds, issued grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., amassed unexplained wealth, and bribed government officials.
She and her defense lawyers have repeatedly denied the accusations, saying that the charges are politically motivated.
Duterte had skipped House proceedings on her impeachment case and instead challenged their constitutionality before the Supreme Court. Her camp has yet to announce whether or not she will personally appear before the Senate.
Impeachment court directs Sara Duterte to appear ‘in person or through counsel’ at July 6 trial
Duterte's legal counsel Michael Poa has said that the Vice President may appear at the trial if her defense team considers it necessary and advises her to.
Although she is not required to appear as a witness for herself, she previously said she wanted "bloodbath" at her trial.
Duterte was first impeached in February 2025 but her trial at the upper chamber had been pushed back under the leadership of former Senate President Francis Escudero. The Supreme Court then blocked the articles of impeachment for being unconstitutional over procedural issues.
After the expiration of the one-year ban for the filing of a fresh impeachment case, Duterte's accusers revived the allegations against her. She was again impeached in May.
The impeachment process, including trial, is regarded as "sui generis" or "of its own kind" because it is neither criminal nor civil in character.
"Unlike traditional legal proceedings, impeachment is quintessentially political, with facts and law being weighed not by specially trained judges but by popularly elected members of Congress," according to an impeachment primer written by UP law professors.
Though when the Senate convened as an impeachment court in May, senators took their oath as "impartial" judges for the hearings.
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said he will preside over the trial, and he expects senators who can physically participate in the proceedings to be present on Monday.
Note that Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa returned to hiding after the unsealing of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for him for alleged crimes against humanity over the drug war, while Sen. Jinggoy Estrada has been suspended and detained for plunder in relation to the flood control scandal.
The Senate president also said that the impeachment court would not entertain any proposal to lower the conviction threshold during the first day of the trial. He said there is a proper time for the matter to be discussed.
Prosecutors need to secure a guilty verdict on at least one article of impeachment from two-thirds of all members of the 24-seat Senate to convict Duterte. Failure to do so will result in her acquittal.
House prosecutor Manila Rep. Joel Chua said that the public may already witness heated debates on the first day of Duterte's trial during discussions on the pending motions that the court needs to resolve.
The prosecution panel has filed the following motions:
- The use of both Filipino and English in the proceedings
- The issuance of notice from both parties three days before the presentation of witnesses
- The authorization of both House and private prosecutors to examine witnesses
- The opening of the "BIR box" containing the tax records of Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio
Duterte's trial will be held at 2 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays until July 27. Afterwards, the trial will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays until its end.
The proposed number of trial days is 62 for the prosecution and 30 for the defense.
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