[An MCT Commentary|Tracker]
The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte opened at the Senate of the Philippines on Monday, July 6, 2026. Twenty-one senator-judges were present. Three were absent. The trial ran past 2:00 PM. Vice President Duterte did not attend. Her lawyers appeared in her place.
Here is what happened on the first day.
[Note: These are only the highlights of Day 1. Many exchanges, motions, and details from the session are not included here. For the complete record, refer to the Senate's official journal and the live coverage of the trial.]
THE COURT SAT WITH 21 OF 24 SENATORS
Three senator-judges were unable to participate. Senator Jinggoy Estrada was in the custody of the Sandiganbayan on a separate plunder charge.
Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa remained out of public view following the confirmed International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him. Senator Rodante Marcoleta was arrested at approximately mid-morning on Monday, hours before the trial opened.
Marcoleta had gone to the Sandiganbayan Third Division that morning to file a motion to quash. The court, composed of Associate Justices Karl Miranda, Ronald Moreno, and Fritz Brian Anthony Delos Santos, denied his motion and issued the warrant in his presence.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group personnel executed the arrest at the Sandiganbayan. He was transferred to Camp Crame for booking procedures, arriving at 11:25 AM, and was later brought to the PNP General Hospital after reporting chest discomfort.
He is to be detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas. The plunder charge stems from an alleged P75 million in undeclared campaign donations received during his 2025 Senate run. Twenty-one senator-judges sat in the session hall in Oxford crimson robes.
GATCHALIAN OPENED THE COURT. ESCUDERO WAS ELECTED PRESIDING OFFICER
Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian opened the court and presided over the first hour and a half of the proceedings. Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson nominated Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero as the impeachment court's presiding officer. Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and members of the minority bloc objected, arguing that the Senate President should preside.
The impeachment court voted 12 in favor, 8 against. Escudero was elected presiding officer. Gatchalian, as Senate President, did not cast a vote in the tally.
He remained seated next to Escudero at the front of the chamber for the rest of the day.
In taking the chair, Escudero clarified the conviction threshold. "With 24 members of the Senate, a literal interpretation of this means that conviction requires the affirmative vote of at least 16 senator-judges." Sixteen votes to convict, regardless of how many senators attend or can participate.
DUTERTE DID NOT SHOW UP. POA APPEARED IN HER PLACE
Vice President Sara Duterte, 48, was not present at the opening. Her lawyer Atty. Michael Poa confirmed her absence in a press briefing minutes before proceedings began.
Duterte, in a statement issued through counsel, said that appearing only through counsel "does not diminish accountability or imply a lack of transparency."
She dismissed President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s comment that it would be "much easier" for her to appear personally, calling his opinion "of no importance" and saying the proceedings must be guided only by the Constitution.
Senate impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol confirmed that Duterte cannot be compelled to attend her own trial. "It is up to Duterte if she wants to voluntarily attend the impeachment trial, but no one can actually force her to do so." He cited her right against self-incrimination and the fact that she is being represented by her lawyers.
Poa said her physical presence would depend on how the proceedings unfold.
THE PROSECUTION MOVED TO ARRAIGN DUTERTE. THE COURT SAID NO
Lead prosecutor Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville "Jinky Bitrics" Luistro delivered the House prosecution's opening statement.
The prosecution argued that Duterte "betrayed the public trust" by allegedly resorting to violence, threatening to kill the President, and misusing public funds.
Luistro moved to have Duterte arraigned under Rule 7 of the Senate impeachment rules, which covers situations where a respondent fails to appear or respond. The impeachment court denied the motion. The first courtroom clash of the trial went to the defense.
House prosecution spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa Jr. addressed a separate question that had been circulating in the run-up: whether the trial would end if Duterte resigned. He said it would not. "Conviction carries two penalties: removal from office and perpetual disqualification from holding public office. A resignation would address only the first."
ESCUDERO ORDERED THE BIR BOX RETURNED, CLOSED AND SEALED
The sealed box containing tax records for Vice President Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases "Mans" Carpio, had been in Senate custody since being turned over during pre-trial. The prosecution had wanted it opened to support the Article 2 unexplained wealth charge. The defense had opposed opening it. Escudero ordered the box returned to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.
"This box was turned over to the Senate as part of the documents, including the Articles of Impeachment. However, the Court is not yet in custodia legis of this box given that there is no lawful order issued by the court for this box to be turned over to the Senate. Moreso that it is not yet offered in evidence, not even, as of yet, marked."
"The chair therefore orders that the BIR box, closed, sealed, and as it is received, be sent back to the BIR, without prejudice to any action that the court may take."
The BIR box goes back closed and sealed. If the prosecution wants its contents in evidence, it will have to move separately for its production.
SUBPOENAS ISSUED FOR TWO NBI OFFICIALS
Escudero ordered the issuance of subpoenas ad testificandum and subpoenas duces tecum for two officials of the National Bureau of Investigation.
The first is NBI Bangsamoro Autonomous Region regional director Jeremy Lotoc. The second is John Mark Calilung, senior agent of the NBI Cyber Investigation and Assessment Center.
Both are directed to appear, testify, and produce documents. Their testimony is expected to be tied to Article 4, the alleged assassination threats against the President, First Lady, and former Speaker.
COURT ACTED ON BANK RECORDS. AMLC MOTION GOT A COMMENT PERIOD
The House prosecution panel asked the impeachment court to issue subpoenas directing banks to produce the bank records of Vice President Duterte and her husband. The subpoenas would also require bank officials to testify on the transactions.
The court issued subpoenas directing at least nine banks to submit bank records of Duterte and Carpio covering the period from 2006 to 2025.
Separately, the prosecution asked the court to subpoena Anti-Money Laundering Council chair Eli Remolona and Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura to submit reports on covered and suspicious transactions involving Duterte and Carpio from 2006 to 2025. The prosecution also asked for an expanded list of BIR records for the couple and their businesses.
On these two motions, Escudero granted both parties five days to file their comments and positions. Oral arguments will follow.
SECURITY AND PROTESTS OUTSIDE
The Philippine National Police deployed 3,250 officers to the Senate premises with 2,900 more on standby. The National Capital Region Police Office had more than 4,000 personnel deployed across Metro Manila.
More than 300 individuals held protests near the Senate's premises in Pasay City. National Capital Region Police Office remained on full alert.
WHAT IS SCHEDULED NEXT
The impeachment court adjourned. Proceedings resume this week. The trial will run Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday afternoons at 2:00 PM through the fifth State of the Nation Address of President Marcos on July 27, then Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons at 2:00 PM after the SONA.
The Senate has approved 92 trial days. Sixty-two for the prosecution. Thirty for the defense.
Lead prosecutor Luistro has said the trial is expected to wrap up in October or November.
The prosecution has said it will present its four Articles of Impeachment in this order: Article 4, the alleged assassination threats, first. Then Article 1, misuse of confidential funds. Then Article 3, alleged bribery of Department of Education officials. Then Article 2, unexplained wealth and false SALN.
WHAT DAY 1 SIGNALED
The trial started. Twenty-one senators sat. Three were absent, one of them arrested that morning. Duterte did not appear. Her lawyers did. The court elected a presiding officer over the Senate President by a 12-8 vote. The first prosecution motion was denied. The court sent a contested evidence box back. It issued its first subpoenas.
The trial has begun.