VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial begins today

The Senate opens the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, July 6, 2026, beginning proceedings that could determine whether she remains in office.

The Senate is scheduled to convene as an impeachment court at 2 p.m. Duterte has been ordered to appear in person or through her legal counsel after senators issued a summons last week.

House prosecutors are expected to formally present the Articles of Impeachment, while Duterte's legal team is expected to enter its appearance before the court.

Senators are also expected to establish the rules and timetable for the trial, including deadlines for pleadings and the presentation of evidence.

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on allegations that include the misuse of confidential and intelligence funds, unexplained wealth, and betrayal of public trust. She has denied any wrongdoing and has described the impeachment case as politically motivated.

READ: Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial: Latest news, Timeline, What You Need to Know

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday said the Vice President should attend the impeachment trial against her,

“The accused can answer directly, not through secondary channels, not through the lawyers. If the accused can respond directly, of course, the process will become clearer and easier,” he said.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Sunday urged the public to monitor the impeachment proceedings of Duterte to ensure accountability.

Gatchalian said the Senate impeachment court will tackle the proceedings in layman's terms so the public can easily understand the discussions during the trial.

“As much as possible, i-laymanize natin ’yung gagawin nating simple at maintindihan ng taong-bayan ’ yung proseso dahil ginagawa natin ito para sa kanila para maintindihan nila,” the senator had said.

(As much as possible, we will explain the proceedings in layman's terms and keep them simple so the public can understand the process. We are doing this so they can understand.)

At the opening of the trial, the House prosecution panel is expected to present officials from the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the House of Representatives as among its first witnesses when Duterte’s impeachment trial opens on Monday.

In the prosecution panel’s Manifestation dated July 3, the witnesses lined up for presentation from July 6 to July 8 include:

• Atty. Jeremy Lotoc, NBI-BARMM regional director
• John Mark Calilung, senior agent of the NBI Cyber Investigation and Assessment Center
• Capt. Belinda Bello, executive director of the House Legislative Security Bureau

The witnesses are expected to testify on Impeachment Article I, which details the alleged grave threat and assassination plot against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

More than 6,000 police officers will be deployed around the Senate on Monday, July 6, to secure the area during the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, the Philippine National Police-National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO) said Sunday. —LDF, GMA News