Vice President Duterte’s impeachment trial begins; Escudero elected presiding officer

Metro Manila, Philippines — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte began on Monday, July 6, with 21 senator-judges in session. 

Defense panel spokesperson Michael Poa said Duterte would not personally appear on the first day.

Senators Bato dela Rosa, Jinggoy Estrada, and Rodante Marcoleta were absent.

Dela Rosa is in hiding amid an International Criminal Court warrant, while Estrada and Marcoleta are detained in connection with their plunder cases. 

The Senate Impeachment Court trial proceedings will take place at 2 p.m. every Monday to Wednesday, from July 6 to 27. After President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his State of the Nation Address on July 28, the proceedings will shift to 3 p.m. from Tuesday to Thursday.

Voting 12-8, the Senate Impeachment Court elected Sen. Chiz Escudero as the impeachment trial presiding officer. Sen. Alan Cayetano strongly objected to electing a presiding officer, citing alleged constitutional violations. 

Due to Cayetano’s continued objections to the election of a presiding officer, Gatchalian directed court stenographers to strike out Cayetano’s remarks against Escudero that were declared out of order.

Second impeachment, first trial

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on May 11 for the second time after the Supreme Court nullified the first complaint, blocking future impeachment attempts under the “one-year bar rule.” This trial centers on four articles of impeachment:

Article I (Misuse of confidential funds): Duterte allegedly misused ₱500 million in confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and ₱112.5 million from the Department of Education (DepEd) during her tenure as secretary.

Article II (Unexplained wealth): Duterte is accused of amassing wealth disproportionate to her income as a public official. The article cites a failure to disclose her assets and those of her husband, Mans Carpio, in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), as well as retaining her business interests while serving as Vice President.

Article III (Bribery of procurement officials): Former education officials alleged that Assistant Secretary Sunshine Fajarda gave them cash-filled envelopes on behalf of Duterte.

Article IV (Threats against the president): During an online briefing, Duterte stated she had hired an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez if she herself were to be killed.

On Saturday, July 4, the House prosecution panel identified personnel from the National Bureau of Investigation and the House of Representatives as witnesses. They are expected to testify in connection with Article IV during the first week of the impeachment trial.