LIVE UPDATES: Impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte
The Senate has kicked off the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte this Monday, June 10.
Bookmark this page to stay for updates on the latest news related to the impeachment of VP Duterte.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERNS. Former chief justice Reynato Puno during a media forum on July 17, 2024. The Philippine Constitution Association, through Puno, on Thursday (June 12, 2025) said the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, raised constitutional concerns when it returned the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. (PNA photo by Yancy Lim)
Senate impeachment move: Philconsa raises constitutional concerns
The Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa) on Thursday said the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, raised constitutional concerns when it returned the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives.
In a statement, Philconsa, through its chairperson former chief justice Reynato Puno, said the Senate’s action “raises grave constitutional questions and challenges the integrity of the impeachment process.”
“Philconsa warns that it may constitute grave abuse of discretion and risks undermining the most fundamental principle of our constitutional democracy: that Public Office is a Public Trust,” Puno said.
“The Accountability of Public Officials cannot be overstressed — and must never be evaded through procedural artifice,” he added.
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Chiz Escudero ug Sara Duterte
Chiz nitudlo sa Korte Suprema sa mga wa makauyon sa gihimo sa Senado
Gistress ni Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero nga pwede kaayo dad-on sa Korte Suprema ang mga argumento sa mga nibatok o wa makauyon sa pagbalik sa Senado ngadto sa House of Representatives ang Articles of Impeachment nga gifile batok ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
Kini human nga “gibatikos” o gisaway sa pipila ka kongresista ang gibuhat sa Senado tungod kay nagatuo sila nga nakalabag kini sa Saligang Batas o Konstitusyon — ang gipasabot nila ang gihimo sa Senado isip usa ka impeachment court niadtong Martes, Hunyo 10.
“Ang puwede lang magsabi kung constitutional o hindi ang isang bagay na ginawa ng anumang ahensya ay ang Korte Suprema, hindi sila at hindi din kami,” matud pa ni Escudero.
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Senate President Francis Escudero during a press conference on Wednesday, June 11, at the Senate office in Pasay City. Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net
Respect impeachment court’s order on Duterte trial, Escudero tells House
The House of Representatives must respect the impeachment court’s orders, following concerns raised by Speaker Martin Romualdez over the Senate’s move to return the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the lower chamber.
This was according to Senate President Francis Escudero on Thursday.
Escudero told reporters when asked about Romualdez’s remarks, “That is the decision of the impeachment court. As prosecutors, they should respect and follow that. The same goes for Vice President Sara; she should respect and follow the summons issued by the impeachment court.”
Earlier, Escudero emphasized that the House has no authority to defy the Senate impeachment court’s orders, underscoring that the Senate and House are not co-equal when it comes to impeachment proceedings.
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INDEPENDENCE DAY PROTESTS
People hold placards and shout slogans as they protest following the Senate’s decision on the impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte, outside the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay, Metro Manila on June 11, 2025. . (Photo by Jam STA ROSA / AFP)
VP Duterte impeachment trial: ‘No one can stop’ it – House prosecutors
MANILA, Philippines — House of Representatives prosecutors said Wednesday that Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial could not be stopped despite the Senate sending the case back to them hours after convening as a court.
Prosecutors told an afternoon press briefing their case had complied strictly with the constitution, adding they would seek clarification over what they called “confusing” Senate orders.
Duterte was impeached in early February on charges of graft, corruption and an alleged assassination plot against former ally and running mate President Ferdinand Marcos.
A guilty verdict would see her removed from office and permanently barred from politics.
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Senate impeachment court issues summons to VP Sara
Senate President and presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero announced the issuance of the summons shortly after the chamber voted 18–5 to return the complaint to the House of Representatives for clarification.
Escudero clarified that the return of the complaint was not a dismissal, and the impeachment process remains active.
“In a few minutes, with the issuance of the summons, it will be made clear that there is no such intention to dismiss the case,” Escudero said.
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Senate remands impeachment case of VP Sara Duterte to House
The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, voted 18–5 on Tuesday night to return the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte to the House of Representatives, rejecting calls for outright dismissal while leaving the case technically alive for further action.
The motion, introduced by Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano, was presented as a compromise to preserve constitutional integrity without prematurely terminating the case.
The motion explicitly stated that the return of the articles would not constitute dismissal or final judgment.
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22 senators take oath as senator-judges in VP Sara impeachment
Twenty-two senators of the 19th Congress have officially taken their oath as senator-judges in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Senate President Francis Escudero, who first took his oath as a presiding officer of the court on Monday, led the oathtaking of senators.
“I, (please state your name), solemnly swear that in all things pertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution in the laws of the Philippines. So help me God,” Escudero pronounced while leading the senators.
Of all the senators present at the hall, only Senators Robin Padilla, Cynthia Villar, and Imee Marcos did not put on their impeachment trial robes.
This development transpired during the chamber’s Tuesday plenary session after they convened into an impeachment court.
The convening of the court was originally scheduled on Wednesday, June 11.
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IMPEACHMENT PROCESS. House of Representatives spokesperson Princess Abante addresses issues about the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte during a press briefing on Tuesday (June 10, 2025). Abante said House prosecutors are fully prepared to fulfill their constitutional duty once the Senate opens the trial of the impeachment case against Duterte. (Photo courtesy of House Press and Public Affairs Bureau)
VP Sara’s Malaysia trip won’t stall impeachment process – House spox
The House of Representatives on Tuesday said Vice President Sara Duterte’s personal trip to Malaysia would not derail the impeachment proceedings against her, even as it urged the Senate to proceed with its constitutional duty to try the case.
“Ang importante simulan na ng Senado ang trial para alam na rin natin kung ano ang magiging susunod na hakbang ng prosecutors at ano ang mangyayari sa (What is important is for the Senate to start the trial for the prosecutors to know the next step to take and what will happen to the) impeachment process,” House spokesperson Princess Abante said in a press briefing.
Abante explained that procedural rules account for situations in which personal service of the Articles of Impeachment cannot be made.
“I believe in the impeachment rules, meron naman siyang nakalagay kung paano ang pag-serve at pag-notify sa accused. Ang requirement kasi diyan personal service pero meron din nakalagay sa rules (It is provided how to serve and notify the accused. The requirement is personal service, but the rules also provide) on what to do if personal service cannot be made,” she said.
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Vice President Sara Duterte speaks during a press conference at her office in Manila on December 11, 2024. ([FILE] Photo by TED ALJIBE / AFP)
CBCP backs calls for start of VP Sara impeachment trial
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Tuesday joined calls for the Senate to start the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a statement, CBCP President Cardinal Pablo David urged members of the Senate to convene as an impeachment court, citing the chamber’s duty under the Constitution and start VP Sara impeachment.
“The Senate of the Republic of the Philippines has a constitutional duty to act on impeachment cases brought before it. This duty is not optional. It is a solemn mandate arising from the principle of checks and balances enshrined in our democratic system,” David said.
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IN A HUDDLE Senators, during a suspension of proceedings on Monday, discuss with Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero (second from right) a motion that will convene the Senate into an impeachment court. —Niño Jesus Orbeta
Escudero: After debates, he takes oath to lead Sara Duterte trial
The attempt of two opposition senators on Monday to convene themselves into an impeachment court and carry out its constitutional mandate to start her trial at once has been torpedoed by administration senators, including known political allies of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero was allowed by the senators, without voting on the matter, to take his oath as presiding officer of the Senate impeachment court.
But they thumbed down Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III’s motion to temporarily suspend the chamber’s legislative proceedings to let it be constituted into an impeachment court.
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Senate President Francis Escudero takes oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday, June 9, 2025. — Photo by Charie Abarca
Escudero: He takes oath as presiding officer of VP Sara Duterte trial
Francis Escudero, Senate president, has taken his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court for the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
This happened during the plenary session of the chamber on Monday.
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Sen. Robin Padilla. Photo from Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau
Robin Padilla files resolution to dismiss impeach trial against Sara Duterte
Senator Robin Padilla has moved to declare the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte terminated before the Senate could even convene as an impeachment court.
Padilla sought the termination of the impeachment proceedings through Senate Resolution No. 1371 he filed at 5:42 p.m. on Monday.
Notably, his resolution was lodged while senators were debating in the plenary on Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel’s motion, urging the Senate to immediately convene as an impeachment court.
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Senator Risa Hontiveros and Vice President Sara Duterte (PHOTOS: SENATE PRIB, FB/DUTERTE)
Senate minority to kick off Sara Duterte impeach trial this Monday
Sen. Risa Hontiveros on Monday bared the Senate minority’s plan to initiate the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
“My fellow countrymen, we will not allow the Senate to be the first to defy the Constitution,” Hontiveros said at a press conference in the Senate. “That is why this afternoon, later in the plenary, we in the Senate minority will take action to begin fulfilling our constitutional duty.”
“We in the Senate minority will formally move to commence the opening rites in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte,” she added.
Hontiveros and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III are the only members of the chamber’s opposition bloc.
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Escudero: Senate to follow its schedule
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