LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial (July 7, 2026)

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will proceed even with a petition before the Supreme Court to halt the trial until the question of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero's authority to preside has been resolved, the trial's spokesperson said Tuesday.

In a press conference, attorney Reginald Tongol explained that any individual may raise any issues to the High Court. But should the SC indeed issue a temporary restraining order, he said the impeachment court shall vote on the matter.

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Tuesday stood by his earlier ruling that at least 16 affirmative votes from senator-judges are needed to convict Vice President Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial.

The issue was raised after Senator-judge Panfilo Lacson sought clarification on whether Escudero's statement on Monday regarding the voting threshold was merely his legal opinion or an official ruling of the impeachment court.

Vice President Sara Duterte's 2024 statements claiming that she had contracted a hitman to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Martin Romualdez constitute both a crime and an impeachable offense, the House prosecution panel argued on Tuesday.

Private prosecutor Amando Virgil Ligutan made the assertion in response to a question from senator-judge Risa Hontiveros on why Duterte's remarks during a November 2024 press conference, as well as statements she made in a separate October 2024 briefing, should be considered impeachable offenses under the Articles of Impeachment.

The November 2024 video of Vice President Sara Duterte making a threat to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez has been played before the Senate impeachment court and entered as evidence for the prosecution.

Several lawyers on Tuesday reiterated their plea for the Supreme Court (SC) to issue a status quo ante order and other interim relief against the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte as the proceedings continued on its second day.

In a 16-page very urgent manifestation with motion, the group of lawyer Israelito Torreon said they sought to inform the High Court of supervening events that took place during the trial, including the voting of the presiding officer.

The House prosecution panel on Tuesday asked the Senate impeachment court to allow it to present Office of the Vice President (OVP) chief of staff Zuleika Lopez and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag as witnesses in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The prosecution panel requested the issuance of subpoenas ad testificandum directing Lopez and Matibag to appear and testify before the impeachment court on July 13 to 15, 2026 at 2 p.m.

Tagged as “witnesses,” the prosecution said that the two’s testimonies are “material, relevant, and necessary to establish the allegations” under Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte.

Article IV centers on the alleged grave threats and an assassination plot by the Vice President against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Vice President Sara Duterte's brief appearance at the Senate on the second day of her impeachment trial could be part of her defense team's legal strategy, former Far Eastern University law dean Mel Sta. Maria said.

Duterte arrived at the Senate on Tuesday, hours before the impeachment proceedings resumed, to meet with her lawyers and briefly address reporters.

The prosecution on Tuesday sought to call Vice President Sara Duterte as a witness on the second day of her impeachment trial on Tuesday.

Private prosecutor lawyer Lorna Kapunan said Duterte's presence would be relevant to Tuesday's impeachment trial, which will tackle the "Assassination Plot, Grave Threats and Inciting to Sedition Against the President."

House prosecution panel spokesperson Rep. Renee Co of Kabataan Party-list on Tuesday downplayed the initial arguments raised by Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team, saying its opening statement did not categorically declare that Duterte was innocent of the Articles of Impeachment filed against her.

Co made the remark on Tuesday after Duterte appeared at the Senate to confer with her lawyers following the first day of her impeachment trial on Monday, when both the prosecution and the defense delivered their opening statements.

"Two things: Wala pong full stop claim that Vice President Sara is innocent. Iyon ang hinahanap natin sa kahit anong opening statement ng defense," Co said at a press conference.

(There was no categorical claim that Vice President Sara is innocent. That is what we were looking for in the defense's opening statement.)

Vice President Sara Duterte said Tuesday that she will be "bloodied but unbowed" amid her impeachment trial.

Duterte went to the Senate to meet with her defense lawyers.

In her brief appearance to the media, she said, "in this bloodbath and bludgeoning, I will be bloodied but unbowed."

The Vice President did not give a further statement nor answer any queries from the media.