House prosecutors ready to present first witness in VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial

The House Prosecution Panel is ready to present its witness on the first day of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial on Monday, July 6, 2026.

"We're ready to present at least one witness on Monday. Kasi ang understanding naman po natin, one witness, one trial day. Pero kung kaya na po namin makakapagsalang ng dagdag pong witnesses para siyempre ma-expedite din po yung proceedings, it is something that we will do," House Impeachment Prosecutor Rep. Terry Ridon said in an interview Friday.

(We're ready to present at least one witness on Monday. Our understanding is that the schedule is one witness per trial day. However, if we're able to present additional witnesses to help expedite the proceedings, that's something we will do.)

Ridon and private prosecutor and House impeachment legal spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said on Monday that after the Senate impeachment court convenes at 2 p.m., they expect it to tackle pending issues, including the possible appointment of a presiding officer, and the prosecution panel's requests to open the sealed BIR box and to allow the private prosecutors to examine witnesses.

House lead impeachment prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro will then deliver the prosecution's opening statement, followed by the defense team's opening statement.

The prosecution panel may then be allowed to present its first witness.

"Nagagalak po tayo na mukhang wala na talagang hadlang sa pagsisimula ng impeachment trial sa Lunes. Wala kaming nakikita na finile ng kabila na sasabihin nilang hindi totoo, wala ring announcement ang Senado na hindi matutuloy," House Impeachment Prosecutor Rep Leila de Lima said in a separate interview today.

(We're pleased that it appears there are no longer any obstacles to the start of the impeachment trial on Monday. We haven't seen anything filed by the other side that would indicate otherwise, and there has also been no announcement from the Senate that the trial will not push through.)

The House Prosecution Panel says it is up to Vice President Sara Duterte to decide whether to attend the trial.

"At the end of the day, we will leave it to the discretion of the impeachment court on whether or not to compel her to actually appear in person," Tolosa said in a separate interview Friday.

When asked what it would mean if the vice president decided not to appear, Ridon replied, "Siyempre, pagpapakita po iyon ng kawalang pagpapahalaga sa Senate Impeachment Court at doon po sa mga mabibigat na mga paratang na inihaharap laban sa kanya."

(Of course, that would show a lack of respect for the Senate Impeachment Court and for the serious allegations being brought against her.)

"Hindi na po ito House Committee on Justice. Senate impeachment court na po ito. Supposedly, bloodbath ang hinahanap, hindi ba? Parang yun pong magdadala ng bloodbath, iyon dapat pong nandoon. Hindi po mga abogado," Ridon added.

(Hindi na po ito House Committee on Justice. Senate impeachment court na po ito. Supposedly, bloodbath ang hinahanap, hindi ba? Parang yun pong magdadala ng bloodbath, iyon dapat pong nandoon. Hindi po mga abogado.) —LDF, GMA News