IN BRIEF: Duterte impeachment trial Day 2 opens with NBI cybercrime expert as prosecution's first witness over defense objections

The vice president arrived at the Senate moments before the second day of her impeachment trial began to give a statement. She warned the press she wouldn't be answering any questions.

"Sadly. Siya'ng may kasalanan. Sabi niya no questions daw," pointing at Atty. Michael Poa from her legal defense team. 

"My statement is, in this bloodbath and bludgeoning, I will be bloodied but unbowed," she told media before getting up and leaving the room with her counsel. 

Duterte's presence in the building was noted by one of the prosecution's counsels, Atty. Lorna Kapunan, mentioning the VP was one of the prosecution's key witnesses "albeit hostile" in its first article of grave threats and acts of sedition.

"If the VP is in the premises, does she intend to appear personally before this impeachment court?" Kapunan asked presiding officer senator-judge Chiz Escudero, who cited the lack of a proper request from the prosecution, saying the impeachment court would act on the prosecution's motion once a formal request was made.

Kapunan replied the prosecution would file the request for a subpoena for the vice president at the appropriate time.

Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor opens prosecution's case

The first article the prosecution presented was its charges of grave threat and acts of sedition against Duterte.

In his opening manifestation, Iloilo Representative Lorenz Defensor emphasized that accountability applies to all, without exemption to those in power. He cited the suspects in the June 2026 Tacloban school shooting, a teacher who was arrested for allegedly offering a reward for the assassination of former president Rodrigo Duterte, and a passenger who was held for making a bomb joke at the airport; all of whom were held accountable for their actions. 

"The prosecution comes before you today to present evidence for Article 4 establishing that Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte committed acts that betrayed the public trust, committed culpable violation of the Constitution, committed high crimes in publicly admitting that she contracted someone to assassinate the President, the First Lady and the former House Speaker," Defensor said. 

"At the heart of this impeachment proceeding lies a fundamental question para sa ating lahat: Can we continue to trust one of the highest constitutional offices to a public official who, on multiple occasions, purposely, and willfully, and repeatedly resorted to violence against the very institutions that she swore to uphold and protect?" Defensor asked. 

Defense counsel Atty. Carlo Narvasa raises multiple objections 

From the first minutes of Defensor's manifestation to the last question asked by Ligutan of the witness, defense counsel Atty. Carlo Narvasa raised objections. 

As Defensor delivered his opening, Narvasa interrupted and said it was "improper for trial" and called it a "narration for the prosecution," to which Defensor said, "I will not disrespect and interrupt the defense counsel once he has started."

Throughout the trial, Narvasa kept it up. Soon after Ligutan presented Calilung as the prosecution's first witness, Narvasa moved to exclude the NBI agent "for being not previously attached to the Saballa and Cabrera complaints," neither was he included in the articles of impeachment transmitted to the Senate Impeachment Court, Narvasa said. 

In his response, Ligutan said, "The Saballa complaint already lived its natural life," referring to the complaint that led to Duterte's second House impeachment. "This witness is listed in the pre-trial order. The issue is settled. The issue is passé. No ground for objection."

The Saballa complaint, filed against the vice president by Fr. Saballa et al. and endorsed by ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, was deemed sufficient in substance by the House Committee on Justice on March 4, 2026. 

Among other issues, Narvasa raised objections to the authenticity of the certified true copies of documents presented by the prosecution, Ligutan's "leading" and "vague" questions for the witness, and the prosecution's decision to present only a two-minute-and-18-second excerpt of the two-hour-26-minute online press conference Duterte held on Nov. 23, 2024. 

Escudero overruled most of Narvasa's objections. 

Video excerpts of Duterte's 2024 press conferences are shown 

Prosecution played several clips lifted from several videos from October and November 2024 showing Duterte allegedly uttering threatening statements and gestures against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and in one video, also against First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. 

A two-minute and 18-second excerpt from Duterte's online media briefing held on Nov. 23, 2024 showed the vice president telling one of the media attendees, "'Wag ka mag-alala Ma'am sa security ko. Kasi may kinausap na akong tao. Sinabi ko sa kanya kapag pintaya ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez. No joke, no joke."

The NBI team then conducted an open-source investigation to look for prior similar statements made by Duterte against Marcos and his family. They wanted to establish a full context. 

Other video clips from an October 2024 press conference held in the Office of the Vice President showed Duterte allegedly giving similar statements. 

"Gusto ko tanggalin 'yung ulo niya ba. I just imagine myself cutting his head," Calilung read from his notes, quoting the vice president. 

"So doon na-realize ko toxic na, 'di ba? Ganyan na 'yung imagination mo. Sinasakal mo na 'yung tao. I said this is over," Duterte allegedly said in another clip. 

"Hindi marunong maging president ang nakaupo. Kasalanan ko ba 'yun?" played another clip. 

"Hindi ko alam, pero isang beses sinabihan ko talaga si Senator Imee. Sabi ko sa kanya, kung hindi kayo tumigil, huhukayin ko 'yang tatay niyo, itatapon ko siya sa West Philippine Sea," Duterte supposedly added. 

"Kung presidente niyo siya, okay lang. Ako hanggang vice president lang ako. Hanggang number two lang itong bansa na ito. Wala itong number 1 para sa akin," said Duterte in another clip. 

The last video presented by prosecution showed Duterte allegedly confirming during a Nov. 26, 2024 press briefing that she had asked an individual "to take revenge against three individuals" if she was killed. 

Ligutan mistakes lead counsel Sheila Sison's toilet break for walkout

When Senator-Judge Risa Hontiveros asked Ligutan if the prosecution's point in presenting its evidence was trying to establish an impeachable offense, Ligutan replied with, "Kelan ba nangyari sa kasaysayan ng Republika ng Pilipinas na 'yung pangalawang pangulo ng bansa nagbanta, sinabi sa publiko na nakapagkontrata na siya sa mamamatay-tao upang patayin ang pangulo, ang First Lady, 'yung asawa niya..." 

He paused mid-sentence, gesturing toward the defense table, which was off-camera. 

"Your Honor, I think Atty. Sison is making a scene. Atty. Sison gave a statement addressed to this representation and she walked out. She's now coming back," Ligutan said. 

In an interview with media following the adjournment of the trial's second day, defense counsel Poa clarified it was not a walkout but a toilet break. 

"Hindi po totoo 'yun. Talagang kailangan lang niya mag-toilet break," Poa said. "She was really on her way out. Tapos nu'ng nasabing nag-walkout siya, narinig yata niya, so bumalik siya, sinabi niya, 'No, I'm still here. I just need to go to the toilet'."

Senator-judge Pia Cayetano asks presiding officer, 'Admonish us'

Following Hontiveros' query, Escudero requested his colleagues to deliver their questions at the appropriate time, noting Hontiveros raised an inquiry that pertained to the final question of the impeachment trial. In a bid for fairness, Escudero invited defense counsel Narvasa to speak, as well, which Narvasa waived until his cross-examination of the witness.

Agreeing with Escudero, Cayetano said the question raised by Hontiveros invited something akin to a closing statement from the prosecution. 

"When we allow this to happen, na-shortcut na natin 'yung process," she said. "With all due respect, Mr. President, admonish us, call us out if 'yung question natin is...not proper at a proper time. We may all make those mistakes. Even I may make that mistake. And I'm telling you, please call me out if I make a mistake and ask the kind of question that should not be properly asked by a judge at that particular time. Because it is not right."

She also asked the parties involved: "You have an oath as lawyers. Don't take advantage of the generosity of this impeachment court. I don't want to see this happen again."

Ligutan presented several other video clips, among which Marcos and Romualdez addressed Duterte's alleged threats. 

After Ligutan concluded his questions for the witness, Escudero adjourned the session until July 8, 2 p.m.

Duterte impeachment trial

Duterte is facing a total of four impeachment complaints. The first complaint was filed by a coalition of various organizations on Feb. 2, but was set aside for violating the one-year bar rule. The second was filed on Feb. 9, but was withdrawn to consolidate support for the third complaint.

The third complaint, backed by ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, charged Duterte with culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, plunder or malversation, bribery, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

The fourth complaint, endorsed by House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega and Manila 6th District Rep. Bienvenido Abante, similarly alleged constitutional violations, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other impeachable offenses.

The Senate impeachment court has approved a 92-day trial as of writing. Sixty-two trial dates have been set for House of Representatives prosecutors and 30 for Duterte's defense team, according to a 14-page Pre-Trial Order obtained by The Philippine STAR.

According to House prosecutor Chel Diokno, the articles of impeachment will be presented in the following order: fourth article, first article, third article, and second article.

If the Senate impeachment court finds her guilty of the charges, Duterte will be removed from her current post and permanently barred from holding public office.