Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial: First Witness Testifies Amid Video Evidence Dispute

The impeachment trial of Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte commenced at the Senate on July 8, with the House prosecution panel presenting its first witness, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) senior agent John Mark Calilung. Calilung testified that he personally preserved and authenticated the video of a virtual press conference held by Duterte in November 2024. In the video, she allegedly stated she had contracted someone to kill President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and his family if she herself were to be killed. This statement forms part of the basis for the articles of impeachment. The defense team repeatedly objected to the admission of this video as evidence, arguing that the prosecution's claims regarding the video constitute a crime and an impeachable offense. However, the prosecution maintained that the statements made in the 2024 press conference are grounds for impeachment. A key point of contention during the proceedings was whether the entire two-hour and 26-minute video of the controversial press conference would be played. The court indicated it would rule on the defense's objections at a later time. Vice President Duterte herself was absent from the trial, with her lawyers stating she had "other engagements." Her defense counsel remarked that it was too early to assess the wins and losses for either side, given that only the first witness had been presented. Under impeachment rules, officials impeached by the House stand trial before the Senate impeachment court, where senators act as judges. The Vice President is not mandated to attend the trial. This trial has significant implications for the Philippine political landscape, and its developments are being closely watched. The defense team has countered that the prosecution's arguments are "misleading, if not leading." Prosecution The House prosecution panel spokesperson, Rep. Renee Co of Kabataan Party-list, downplayed the initial arguments raised by Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team, stating that its opening statement did not categorically declare Duterte innocent of the Articles of Impeachment filed against her. The prosecution has requested the Senate impeachment court to allow the presentation of Office of the Vice President (OVP) chief of staff Zuleika Lopez and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag as witnesses. The November 2024 video of Vice President Sara Duterte making a threat to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez was played before the Senate impeachment court for the first time and entered as evidence for the prosecution, despite repeated objections from the defense. The prosecution presented its first witness, National Bureau of Investigation Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, who investigated the authenticity of Duterte's press conference that was broadcast on social media. Private prosecutor Amando Ligutan stated that Duterte's 2024 statements claiming she had contracted a hitman to kill Marcos, Liza Marcos, and Romualdez constitute both a crime and an impeachable offense. He was responding to a query from senator-judge Risa Hontiveros. Senator-judge Pia Cayetano moved to strike Ligutan’s responses to Hontiveros off the record, arguing that the latter's questions were unfair, if not inappropriate. Senate impeachment court Presiding Officer Francis Escudero said Cayetano’s motion would be resolved at a later time to give the defense ample opportunity to respond. Defense Vice President Sara Duterte arrived at the Senate to meet with her lawyers before the impeachment proceedings but skipped the trial. Atty. Michael Poa said the Vice President would not attend the trial due to other engagements. The defense counsel of the Vice President, Atty. Carlo Narvasa, repeatedly objected to the presentation of the video. Atty. Michael Poa, a member of the defense team, stated that it is too early to count the wins and losses of the defense and prosecution panels in Duterte's impeachment trial, as only the first witness has been presented so far, according to one of her counsels as Tuesday’s trial concluded. Impeachment Court The tax records of the Vice President and her husband, Manases Carpio, were returned by the Impeachment Court Clerk to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and were received by Atty. Anne Loraine Garcia-Marquez of the Office of the BIR Commissioner at 11:07 a.m. Escudero confirmed and affirmed that the 16-conviction threshold is a definitive ruling, subject to the legal recourse of any party. Escudero reiterated that Duterte is not mandated to appear in the impeachment trial. The Presiding Officer also ruled that the cross-examination of Calilung by the Defense would take place on Wednesday, July 8. Information Source: GMA News Philippines