Vice President Sara Duterte has announced that she will not personally attend the opening of her impeachment trial, with her legal counsel representing her before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court. In a statement issued on July 6, 2026, Duterte stressed that impeachment proceedings must adhere to the Constitution and due process, and that a respondent has the constitutional right to be represented by counsel.
Constitutional Rights and Legal Strategy
“The opinion of a (Vice) President in an impeachment proceeding is of no importance. Impeachment proceedings must be guided by the Constitution and due process. The respondent has the right to be represented by counsel, and the decision to personally testify is a matter of legal strategy and constitutional rights,” Duterte stated.
She emphasized that respondents in impeachment cases are not required to personally testify, noting that the burden of proof rests with the prosecution. Duterte maintained that appearing through legal counsel does not diminish accountability nor should it be interpreted as a lack of transparency. “The integrity of an impeachment trial depends on adherence to the rule of law — not on whether the respondent personally takes the stand,” she said.
Call for Objective Discourse
Duterte also urged public officials to refrain from injecting personal opinions into matters related to the impeachment proceedings. Instead, she said discussions on issues of public concern should be guided by the law, established government policies, scientific evidence, and objective facts.
Trial Proceedings
The Senate is set to convene as an impeachment court to begin proceedings on the case filed against her. The Senate impeachment court earlier directed Duterte to appear in her trial. On May 11, the House of Representatives impeached Duterte over alleged betrayal of public trust, culpable violations of the Constitution, and misuse of public funds in connection with alleged irregularities involving confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education during her tenure as department secretary. Also cited in the article of impeachment were threats Duterte made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. At the opening of the trial, members of the defense and prosecution teams will formally enter their appearances before delivering opening statements.
