Impeachment court to issue new subpoena for COA state auditor

Senate impeachment court presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday ordered the issuance of a new subpoena for the next witness of the House prosecution panel who will testify on the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds by Vice President Sara Duterte. On the 12th day of the impeachment trial, Escudero noted that the previous subpoena for Commission on Audit-Intelligence and Confidential Funds Office (COA-ICFAO) Xylene Del Campo was only effective on August 3 to 4, 2026. He thus directed the Senate Clerk of Court and the Sergeant-at-Arms to serve a new subpoena to compel Del Campo’s appearance before the impeachment court, valid from August 5 to 11, 2026. Del Campo is set to testify after former COA-ICFAO state auditor Roderick Wamil is formally dismissed by the impeachment court, possibly on Wednesday, August 5. Meanwhile, Escudero said the subpoena for House of Representatives Legislative Information Resources Management Department director Marivic Pareja “will depend on the chair’s ruling on the motion for judicial notice of the prosecution.” He said he will rule on the motion after hearing the respondent orally or through a written manifestation regarding the matter on Wednesday. This is in relation to Article 1 of the impeachment case against Duterte, which alleges that she committed culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust due to alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds. Of the P612.5 million, P500 million was given to the Office of the Vice President, while the remaining P112.5 million was released to the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure as Education secretary. —VAL, GMA News