LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial (July 15, 2026)

The Senate impeachment court on Wednesday approved the issuance of subpoenas to four individuals who are set to testify on Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.

On the sixth day of the trial, Senate impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero granted the issuance of subpoenas ad testificandum (ordering a person to testify) and duces tecum (ordering a person to produce documents or other evidence) for witnesses who are scheduled to appear on July 21 and 22.

Senator-judges sitting as an impeachment court on Wednesday deferred action on the House prosecution panel's request to subpoena the tax and bank records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband until Monday, July 20.

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero announced the decision after the senator-judges held a closed-door caucus for more than an hour to discuss the motions seeking the issuance of the subpoenas.

The House prosecution panel on Wednesday disputed the defense's claim that the detention of Atty. Zuleika Lopez at the House of Representatives prompted Vice President Sara Duterte's profane remarks and death threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. and public prosecutor, San Juan Rep. Belle Zamora, said the testimonies of their first two witnesses—Mark Calilung and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc—showed that Duterte's November 23, 2024 remarks were the culmination of a series of earlier statements, including remarks about wanting to "cut off" the President's head and calling him an incompetent leader.

Senator-judges on Wednesday afternoon held a caucus after the defense and prosecution panels presented arguments on the request to subpoena the tax and bank records of Vice President Sara Duterte, her husband Manases Carpio, and the businesses linked to them.

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero declared a recess at 3:24 p.m.

The prosecution panel has urged the Senate impeachment court to allow the truth to come out by allowing the opening of bank and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio, saying this is within the court's authority.

Prosecutor Chel Diokno of Akbayan party-list, in arguing for the prosecution, said issuing a subpoena for these documents is well within the Senate’s constitutional mandate to try and decide impeachment cases.

“Ang hiling ng prosecution ay mailabas ang buong katotohanan so that this court may know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth and make its decisions based on that. That is why we have requested the issuance of subpoena duces tecum for the bank records, tax records, and Anti-Money Laundering Council reports relating to Vice President and her husband,” Diokno said.

(What we are calling for is for the truth to come out.)

“Sa pamamagitan nito, mailalahad ang buong katotohanan tungkol sa mga alegasyon sa Article 2 ng Articles of Impeachment. The Constitution, your Honors, vested this impeachment court with extraordinary powers. Tanging ang hukumang ito lamang ang may kapangyarihan magpasya kung ang mga pinakamataas na pinuno ng ating bansa ay karapat-dapat pa rin manungkulan. Nothing and no one can handcuff this court's power to try and decide this impeachment case. Kahit ang Bank Secrecy law po ay sumusunod at tumatalima sa impeachment court,” Diokno added.

Senator-judges Robin Padilla, Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano took offense Wednesday at the statement of National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag that he will investigate the alleged anomalies in the bidding and funding of projects for the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Senator-judges should allow the disclosure of the bank and tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte, her husband Manases Carpio, and businesses linked to them, as doing so would best serve the public interest, the prosecution team said on Wednesday.

House trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Representative Zia Alonto Adiong and private prosecutor Benjamin Tolosa Jr. made the call ahead of the expected oral arguments on Wednesday afternoon on whether the Senate impeachment court should subpoena the tax and bank records of the Vice President, her husband, and their affiliated businesses.

"It would best serve the public interest if all relevant documents, testimonies, and witnesses are made available for the court's consideration," Adiong said during a press conference.

Tolosa said the prosecution's position is consistent with the purpose of an impeachment trial, which is to ensure accountability by allowing the court to examine all relevant evidence, regardless of whether it ultimately supports the prosecution or the defense.

Malacañang on Wednesday maintained that the allegations against Vice President Sara Duterte go beyond an ordinary grave threats case, arguing that the issue concerns national security because the alleged targets were President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

At a Palace briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro rejected the defense's argument that Duterte's controversial remarks during a November 2024 livestream were merely responses to questions and did not constitute threats.

After days of witness presentation, the Senate impeachment court on Wednesday, July 15, will hold oral arguments on the House prosecution panel’s request to subpoena the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte, her husband Mans Carpio, and businesses linked to them.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano and House prosecutor Defensor moved that the time be increased to 15 minutes for oral arguments for each side and a 10-minute rebuttal.

Vice President Sara Duterte’s statements that she ordered a kill job on President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and former Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, aside from wanting to cut the head of the Chief Executive, are all admissions against her interest.

“What is consistent here is the fact that the Vice President never denied her statements in the November 2024 press conference and it was not denied in the answer and even after three days when she was asked about this, she had an opportunity to clarify her statement and there is no agreement to kill, sabihin niyang hindi biro biro lang ito, she did not take it back,” private prosector Benjamin Tolosa Jr, said in a press conference.

Jeremy Lotoc, NBI regional director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and former chief of the NBI Cybercrime Division, said the Vice President betrayed public trust when she threatened to have President Marcos Jr., First Lady, and former House Speaker Romualdez killed.

Senator-judge Panfilo Lacson asked whether Lotoc had the impression that the supposed "Oplan Romanov" threat was directed at the Vice President. The NBI official said he believes it referred to an alleged assassination plot against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and the First Family—not Vice President Sara Duterte.

Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano cautioned against concluding that Mayor Baste Duterte, who reportedly first mentioned Oplan Romanov publicly, had threatened the First Family.

Senator-judge Robin Padilla asked about Lotoc’s professional background, credentials, and cases filed against him. The witness maintained that it is entirely normal for law enforcement officers to face cases due to the nature of their job.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian asked Lotoc whether he believes the Vice President can carry out the alleged threat against the President and his family. The witness answered in the affirmative, saying it’s because she is the second-highest government official and the daughter of someone who faces charges of crimes against humanity for alleged extrajudicial killings

The impeachment court excused Lotoc past 7 p.m.

The oral arguments on the House prosecution panel's request to subpoena the tax and bank records of Vice President Sara Duterte, her husband Manases Carpio, and businesses linked to them shall be held on Wednesday.

Under the revised rules, the prosecution and defense would each have 15 minutes to present their arguments and 10 minutes for rebuttal. The Senator-Judges, meanwhile, were given 10 minutes each to explain whether the motion should be granted.

Gatchalian joined Cayetano's motion to hold a caucus after the oral arguments on Wednesday.