WHAT THEY SAID: Sara Duterte impeachment trial opens with calls for fairness, accountability
The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte formally opened on Monday, July 6, with senator-judges, prosecutors, and defense lawyers laying out varying views on accountability, due process, and the stakes of removing an elected official from office.
Senate President Win Gatchalian called on the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, to remain “firm in the search for truth,” stressing that its eventual decision must be based on the Constitution, the law, court rules, and evidence that will be presented during the proceedings.
As the trial began, senator-judge Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who was elected as presiding officer for the trial, vowed to carry out his role without fear or favor.
For their parts, the prosecution panel promised evidence rather than “rumors” as Duterte's defense team warned that the impeachment must not be used to override the mandate of more than 32 million Filipinos who voted for her as vice president in 2022.
Below are the key quotes from Day 1 of the VP's impeachment trial.
Gatchalian: "Due process and fair play must remain paramount at every stage of this trial."
Gatchalian formally began the trial with his opening statement, where he called on his fellow senator-judges to approach the proceedings with a firm commitment to the truth.
"Ang bawat pasya natin ay dapat nakabatay lamang sa Saligang batas, sa ating mga batas, sa mga alituntunin ng hukumang ito, at sa mga ebidensiyang ihaharap na walang kinikilingan at walang pinapanigan," he said.
"We cannot achieve accountability, nor can we faithfully serve justice without the truth. Karapatan ng sambayanan na malaman kung may katotohanan ang mga paratang laban sa pangalawang pangulo," he added.
In conducting the trial, Gatchalian said that they will ensure that the process is orderly, transparent, and easy for the public to understand.
Both sides—the prosecution and the defense—will also be given sufficient and fair opportunity to present evidence, examine and question witnesses, and fully lay out their arguments.
"Due process and fair play must remain paramount at every stage of this trial. Let us be firm in the search for truth. Let us remain faithful to the rules of this court, the rule of law, and above all, the Constitution," he underscored.
Escudero: "I did not seek nor did I ask for this responsibility, but neither will I shirk from fulfilling this duty without fear or favor."
During his opening statement, Escudero promised that he would do his part to uphold the fairness and integrity of this process and would see it through to its proper conclusion.
"I did not seek nor did I ask for this responsibility, but neither will I shirk from fulfilling this duty without fear or favor," he said.
According to him, an impeachment case is "the most difficult and cumbersome mode of removing a public officer from office."
"Subalit, ang paglilitis na ito ay hindi lamang hindi pangkaraniwan; ito ay tunay na bukod-tangi," he said. "Bakit? [Si Duterte] ang kauna-unahang bise presidente na haharap sa paglilitis ng isang impeachment court at pangalawang opisyal lamang na halal ng sambayanan na sasailalim sa prosesong ito."
Because of this, Escudero highlighted that the trial "must be guided with prudence, tempered by caution, and marked with unquestionable impartiality."
He subsequently discussed the rules that will guide the conduct of the trial. Regarding the number of votes needed to convict Duterte, he said that two-thirds of all the members of the Senate are needed, meaning at least 16 senators must vote in favor of conviction.
There were only 21 senators present during the first day of the impeachment trial. Sen. Rodante Marcoleta was arrested at least an hour before the trial for a non-bailable plunder charge over his undeclared P75 million in campaign donations. In the past month, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was also arrested over a similar case of non-bailable plunder. This was due to his alleged involvement in the flood control scandal. Meanwhile, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa remains in hiding over an International Criminal Court arrest warrant.
On the question of the amount of proof required to settle the case, Escudero explained that the standards of proof that govern administrative, civil, and criminal proceedings do not apply.
"However, this does not mean that senator-judges shall rely solely on their conscience in deciding this case. No less than the Supreme Court also said that, 'Decisions regarding whether to acquit or convict must be based upon clear charges supported by sufficiently clear and convincing evidence,'" he said.
"Furthermore, let me be clear that the burden of proof in these proceedings rests upon the prosecution," he added.
On how strictly or liberally the court will apply the rules in resolving questions of procedure and evidence, Escudero said that rules will be "liberally construed to promote their objective of securing a just, speedy, and inexpensive disposition of every action and proceeding." They will also be guided by the Supreme Court's Benchbook for Trial Judges, which "reflects a long-standing principle of adjudication."
"Let us remember what our oath requires us: to do impartial justice according to the Constitution and the laws," Escudero said.
"Hindi po tayo nandito upang itaguyod ang anumang pampolitikal na agenda. Hindi tayo narito upang paglingkuran ang kagustuhan ng alinmang panig. Narito tayo upang alamin ang katotohanan at sa pamamagitan nito, mapairal ang hustisyang walang kinikilingan," he added.
Prosecution: "Power belongs to the people."
Lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro asserted that their team will only present evidence and not rumors during the impeachment trial.
"The prosecution will present exactly what the Constitution requires—evidence, hindi tsismis, hindi haka-haka, hindi propaganda, at lalong hindi socmed narrative," she said. This includes official records, financial documents, government reports, video recordings, statements under oath, and independent findings of institutions created by law, among others.
Luistro claimed that on the first article of impeachment, which centers on Duterte's alleged misuse and misappropriation of confidential funds, they have evidence showing that more than P612 million in confidential funds entrusted to the office of the Vice President and the Department of Education were disbursed, transferred, and liquidated "under circumstances that cannot withstand scrutiny."
"The evidence will show liquidation reports supported by questionable documents. The evidence will show acknowledgement receipts, bearing names government records could not verify. Names that transformed accountability into a mockery. Pananagutan na naging kalokohan," Luistro claimed.
On Article III, which deals with alleged bribery and corruption during Duterte's tenure at DepEd, Luistro also said that they have evidence showing the distribution of cash payments and monetary gifts to officials under the supervision of the respondent.
"This article is not simply about envelopes. This is about the institution. This is about whether loyalty was purchased rather than earned. Government cannot function if loyalty is purchased instead of earned," she said.
Luistro ended her statement by highlighting that "power belongs to the people."
"Public office is merely borrowed. And every borrowed power carries with it the obligation to account for its use. If a barangay treasurer must account for public fund, then so must the vice president. If an ordinary public servant can be investigated, then so can the highest officials of the government," she said.
"This is the moment when the Republic must demonstrate that laws are applied equally to the powerful and the powerless alike," she continued.
Defense: "Ang malinaw na layunin sa likod ng mga paratang na ito ay ang pagpapatalsik sa isang bise presidenteng inihalal ng mahigit tatlumpu't dalawang milyong Pilipino."
Lead defense counsel Sheila Sison, in her opening speech, underscored that Duterte was elected by more than 32 million Filipinos in the 2022 elections—more votes than those received by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and far more than the individual vote totals secured by members of the House of Representatives serving as prosecutors.
"Ang malinaw na layunin sa likod ng mga paratang na ito ay ang pagpapatalsik sa isang bise presidenteng inihalal ng mahigit tatlumpu't dalawang milyong Pilipino," she said.
While she acknowledged that people have the right to demand accountability from their leaders, she maintained that the same goes for prosecutors.
"This is not the first time that members of the House of Representatives have attempted to remove the vice president and in a manner not compliant with the Constitution," Sison pointed out, referring to how the Supreme Court previously voided a past impeachment complaint against Duterte after they ruled that it was "unconstitutional."
"While impeachment is a powerful democratic process to call out corruption and grave abuse, impeachment can be abused." Luistro said. "Impeachment should never be abused to maintain the hegemonic dominance of greed by shaming those who occupy high government positions into preventing them from doing what they were sworn to do."
Because of this, she urged that the trial be handled with "the command of the Constitution, the majesty of the law, and the discipline required by the rules."
"Otherwise, those who stand in sanctimonious judgment of the vice president will send a clear message that the law can be bent when it suits the convenience of the powerful, and that justice can be sacrificed at the altar of partisan interests," Sison said.
According to her, over the course of the trial, the defense team will present evidence countering the allegations. One of which is the issue regarding the confidential funds.
She maintained that the funds underwent a documented approval process, beginning with a recommendation from then Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman and approval by the Office of the President through then-Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, before the funds were released in December 2022.
"We are not strangers to all these accusations, precisely because this was not the first time these narratives were foisted into the minds of the general public. We have heard the same tales and stories of these accusations since 2024," Sison said.
"What we must not forget amid all these accusations is the fundamental legal principle that the burden of proof never shifts. He who accuses must prove his allegations with evidence that meets not only the degree of proof required, but also meets the evidentiary standards of admissibility, credibility, relevance, materiality, and competence," she added.
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 House lawmakers voted 257 in favor of her impeachment during its first regular session on May 11. Twenty-five voted against it, while nine abstained.
The impeachment court has approved a 92-day trial so far, with 62 dates for House of Representatives prosecutors and 30 days for Duterte’s defense team.
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.
