Sara Duterte trial: Whose soundbites did Escudero flag?

PRESIDING OFFICER. Impeachment court presiding officer Chiz Escudero addresses the court on August 25, 2026.

Voltaire Domingo/Senate Social Media Unit

'Personally, I will behave,' one prosecutor says after Escudero outlines clear sanctions against violators of the court's sub judice rule

Whom does the impeachment court find most disobedient?

Trial court presiding officer Chiz Escudero spent half an hour reading the court’s decision on violators of the impeachment handbook’s sub judice rule, which prohibits senator-judges, prosecutors, respondent Vice President Sara Duterte, and her defense lawyers from making comments on the merits of the case outside of the court.

Escudero didn’t sanction anyone on Wednesday, August 26, but laid out sanctions that include a public reprimand for a first offense, and a monetary fine of P30,000 for succeeding offenses.

He offered a clean slate though, so no previous violations will be met with sanctions, but that didn’t stop Escudero from reading soundbites that didn’t sit well with the court.

The presiding officer did not identify the persons behind the soundbites, but some of the statements are just a Google search away.

So who said what?

“Hindi naman pinag-uusapan dito ang kontrata. Ang pinag-uusapan dito, ‘yung banta, ‘yung banta. Nakita ‘nyo sa video? May nagbanta talaga, at si Vice President ‘yun, ‘di ba?”

Public prosecutor Terry Ridon said this in a television interview on July 8.

The country witnessed what I’ve been saying all along. The complaint is not supported by evidence. An impeachment proceeding should be grounded on credible evidence, not speculation, manufactured narratives, or unsupported allegations. The rule of law depends on facts, not fiction.

Vice President Sara Duterte made the statement on July 14.

Mayroon ba talagang kinausap na mamamatay-tao? Mayroon ba talagang mamamatay-tao? Napakaliwanag ng sagot diyan: Mayroon. Ano ang pruweba natin? Iyong tinatawag nating admission against interest ng Vice President.”

Private prosecutor Jay Tolosa said this in a radio interview on July 19.

It is clear that the Vice President had the direct hand on this, she signed off to it. No, not just the use, but the way it was liquidated.

Tolosa made the comments in a press conference on August 3.

Iyon pong binabanggit ni Atty. Kapunan na scam, ‘yun pa rin po ‘yun. Pagtingin po namin, na inilantad ngayong araw po na ito, ‘yung pagiging scam, iskandalo ng confidential fund misuse.

Public prosecutor Terry Ridon delivered the remarks in a press briefing on August 4.

Siguro naman, it’s plain for everybody to see, ‘yung conclusion no? ‘Yung conclusion na tama ba ‘yung pinaggamitan ng confidential fund, hanggang kailan ba ‘yung pagpipikit-mata natin sa isang bagay na napakaklaro naman?

Private prosecutor Amando Virgil Ligutan said this in a television interview on August 5.

To us, it’s a scam, a scam masterminded by the Vice President.” 

Private prosecutor Mae Divinagracia made the statement on Tuesday, August 25.

What happens now?

In the aftermath of Escudero’s stern warning and issuance of clear sanctions, prosecutors and defense lawyers declined interviews with the media.

The House’s lunch press conference also featured no member of the prosecution panel, and instead featured House Deputy Speaker Jay Khonghun and impeachment adviser Ace Barbers, both of whom are not covered by the court’s sub judice rule.

Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan, however, still agreed to an ambush interview.