Sara Duterte's impeachment trial: Media's 'trial of the century' label sparks debate

As the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte unfolds, media outlets have increasingly resorted to weighty language to articulate the proceedings' importance, branding it a "high-stakes affair," a "long-awaited" trial, and a "defining political test of her career." Some have even labeled it the "trial of the century." However, the appropriateness of such a label, especially when compared to historical precedents, is being questioned. Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan had previously tagged Duterte's impeachment process in 2025 as the "trial of the century." Before the current trial commenced on July 6, some reporters subtly reminded Kapunan of this phrase, which she reiterated, providing the media with a quotable source. The "trial of the century" is an easily digestible framing device that the press can employ, regardless of its historical precision. In the US, the Washington Post's Peter Carlson noted that referring to high-profile court cases as the "trial of the century" is a "traditional bit of American hyperbole," humorously pointing out how the media frequently assigns this title to various cases, from O.J. Simpson's to those involving Microsoft or then-US President Bill Clinton. According to Encyclopedia Britannica Online, the phrase refers to spectacles involving "a driven prosecutor, an impassioned defense attorney, and an accused whose fate hangs in the balance." Duterte's impeachment trial fits this description, with both prosecution and defense teams fiercely pursuing their objectives, and the Vice President facing potential removal and disqualification from office. Historically, the Philippines has seen trials that could arguably claim the "trial of the century" title. The 2001 impeachment trial of then-President Joseph Estrada, for instance, was seen by the Philippine Center of Investigative Journalism as a potential end to the cycle of impunity in public office. Estrada's subsequent plunder trial, the 2012 impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona, and the protracted Ampatuan massacre trial are also contenders. The author admitted to labeling Duterte's current trial as the "trial of the decade" during a Rappler Talk interview, considering the 2021 Estrada impeachment trial more significant. However, a colleague pointed out the upcoming trial of Rodrigo Duterte at The Hague, prompting a jest about the impossibility of even calling his daughter's trial the "trial of 2026." Even House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega quipped on July 16, "We are already here in the impeachment trial, the trial of the century. But Congressman Joel Chua said, maybe (just) trial of the year." Regardless of the media's chosen descriptor, the search for a fitting term underscores their effort to convey the trial's significance. As former Senate President Franklin Drilon aptly put it in his memoir, "an impeachment trial is a reminder that democracy is not a spectator sport." It requires ordinary citizens to "stand up and be counted when history calls." The media's aim is to ensure the public remains tuned in, invested, and actively engaged throughout the proceedings.