LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial (July 6, 2026)

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian confirmed Monday that he would preside over the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

"Like I said, nasa rules natin na Senate President and magpe-preside," Gatchalian told reporters in a chance interview after the flag raising ceremony in the Senate.

(Like I said, our rules state that the Senate President will preside.)

Gatchalian made the remarks as the Senate is set to formally open the impeachment trial later at 2 p.m. According to senator, the chamber is all-set for the opening. He also encouraged all senator-judges to attend the proceedings amid reports of alleged boycott.

"Not sure kung ano yung mga posibilities na yan pero of course, ine-encourage natin ang mga senator-judges to attend," the senator said.

(Not sure what are the posibilities but we encourage them to attend.)

"It is our constitutional duty at hinahantay ng taumbayan na masimulan ito at matapos rin kaagad para makabalik na sa normal nating responsibilities: legislative, investigations and of course the budget, pinakamahalaga ang budget dahil ang ekonomiya natin ngyon ay bumabagal. Ito yung mga nakikita kong dapat matalakay in the next few months," he added.

(It is our constitutional duty and the public is waaiting for this to start and end immediately so we can go back to our normal responsibilities: legislative, investigations and of course, the budget.)

Vice President Sara Duterte’s physical attendance at her impeachment trial will depend on how the proceedings unfold, defense spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa said Monday, declining to confirm whether she would personally appear before the Senate impeachment court.
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Interviewed on GMA's "Unang Balita" hours before the start of the trial, Poa said he declined to discuss whether Duterte would attend the proceedings in person.

"Hindi ko na muna siguro sagutin 'yan dahil ayaw natin na muna sa headline ang attendance ng Vice President. Hintayin na lang natin mamaya, ilang oras na lang, and then siguro dapat ang maging focus ay talagang iyong mga proceedings ng unang araw ng impeachment," he said.

(I'd rather not answer that [question] yet because we don't want the Vice President's attendance to become the headline. Let's just wait a few hours, and I think the focus should really be on the proceedings of the first day of the impeachment.)

The National Capital Region Police Office is on full alert status amid the scheduled start of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday afternoon.

NCRPO spokesperson Major Hazel Asilo said they have been on full alert since 5 p.m. Sunday.

"Effective 5 p.m., July 5, full alert na po (ang) NCRPO," Asilo said in a message to GMA News Online.

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.

Vice President Sara Duterte is the lone Philippine official to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives—first in February 2025, and second in May 2026.

Here are the things you need to know.