Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial: Voting Threshold, Unexplained Wealth Charge Take Center Stage

MANILA, Philippines – Day 23 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Tuesday centered on two major procedural developments: a looming decision on the voting threshold needed for conviction, and the formal pivot to Article II, the unexplained-wealth charge. Presiding officer and Senator-judge Francis Escudero announced that amici curiae (friends of the court) will be heard on September 16, with oral arguments of the parties scheduled for September 23, when the Senate is expected to vote on whether to retain the 24-member voting base for the trial. Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo had raised the issue, citing concerns about senators who may be unable to physically participate in the final conviction or acquittal vote, given that Sens. Loren Legarda is on sick leave, Ronald dela Rosa is in hiding, and Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada are detained in connection with plunder cases. On the evidentiary front, the prosecution told the court it would skip the remaining 15 of 27 witnesses for Article I and instead reserved the right to call Duterte herself to the witness stand to address all articles of impeachment. Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan announced the move, saying the prosecution had already presented 10 witnesses and stipulated two others, making the remaining Article I witnesses unnecessary. Defense lead counsel Sheila Sison immediately objected, invoking the Constitutional prohibition against compelling an accused to testify against herself, calling the prosecution’s possible move an attempt at impermissible testimonial compulsion. With Article I witnesses concluded, the court set September 14 as the start date for Article II proceedings on Duterte’s alleged unexplained wealth. Rep. Chel Diokno, lead prosecutor for Article II, told the court on Tuesday that more than 1,800 documents, including bank and insurance records produced under court-issued subpoenas, are set for marking on September 9 and 10, with trial proceedings suspended on those days so both sides can participate. The Senate impeachment court separately gave Duterte’s lawyers 15 days to respond to the prosecution’s Request for Admission covering 104 items related to Article II, including bank records the prosecution seeks to confirm belong to the vice president. Escudero also announced the broader trial schedule running through November, with whole-day trial sessions scheduled for October 1, 2 and October 5 to 15, and a break from October 16 to November 8 to make way for 2027 national budget hearings and plenary debates. The revised calendar was approved in an all-senators caucus, according to Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri. /dp