KEY MOMENTS: Sara Duterte impeachment trial

(As of 1:35 p.m./Sept. 3, 2026)

Editor’s note: Bookmark this article for more updates.

MANILA, Philippines – Here’s a compilation of INQUIRER.net’s reports highlighting the major developments of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Catch up on the key allegations, testimonies, revelations and arguments that have shaped the impeachment proceedings so far.

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WEEK 8 (Aug. 24-26, 2026)The week’s most consequential testimony came on Day 18, August 25, when Office of the Vice President Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio, designated as the second hostile witness in the trial, told the Senate impeachment court that Duterte knew about and had authorized all activities related to the use of confidential funds under her office’s disposal.

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Also, the week’s proceedings highlighted the sub judice ruling issued by Presiding Officer Francis Escudero.

READ: ICYMI: Sara Duterte impeachment trial highlights

WEEK 7 (Aug. 17, 2026)

The impeachment court held one trial day during Week 7 as classes and work, both in government and some private offices were disrupted due to heavy monsoon rains.

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Week 7 of the trial, however, was focused heavily on the testimony of Gina Acosta, the former OVP special disbursing officer who became the prosecution’s first hostile witness.

Acosta testified that she withdrew P125 million in confidential funds from LandBank and, following Duterte’s instruction, turned the money over to Col. Raymund Lachica, the vice president’s security chief. The testimony was highlighted by the prosecution as a key piece of evidence in its allegation of misuse of confidential funds or Article 1 of the Impeachment Articles.

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ICYMI: Sara Duterte impeachment trial Week 7 highlights

Highlights: Day 16 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Aug. 17, 2026

WEEK 6 (Aug. 11, 12, 2026)

A second Coa witness completed testimony on Days 14 and 15 of the vice president’s trial, declaring that neither the OVP nor DepEd had a mandate for confidential operations, while courtroom clashes over misleading questions, social media posts, and defense delays dominated the week.

The impeachment trial resumed on August 11 after Monday’s cancellation due to heavy monsoon rains, with Coa Intelligence and Confidential Funds Audit Office supervising auditor Xylene Mae del Campo returning to the witness stand for Days 14 and 15 to testify on the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds split between the OVP and DepEd.

ICYMI: Sara Duterte impeachment trial Week 6 highlights

Highlights: Day 15 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Aug 12, 2026

Highlights: Day 14 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Aug. 11, 2026

WEEK 5 (Aug. 3, 4, 5, 2026)

Week five of Duterte’s trial highlighted by Supreme Court decision on August 5 dismissing as moot the consolidated petitions filed by Duterte and a group of lawyers led by Israelito Torreon that sought to nullify the House of Representatives’ impeachment proceedings.

The high court ruled that any decision on the validity of the House and its committee on justice actions would no longer affect the controversy now pending before the Senate impeachment court. 

ICYMI: Sara Duterte impeachment trial Week 5 highlights

Highlights: Day 13 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Aug. 5, 2026

Highlights: Day 12 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Aug. 4, 2026

Highlights: Day 11 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Aug. 3, 2026

Week 4 (July 29, 2026)

The prosecution opened Article 1 of the Articles of Impeachment, which is centered on allegations of misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds from the OVP and DepEd.

Week 4 had only one scheduled trial as the Senate impeachment court adjusted its proceedings for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (Sona) and the opening of the Second Regular Session of the 20th Congress.

ICYMI: Sara Duterte impeachment trial Week 4 highlights

Highlights: Day 10 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 29, 2026

WEEK 3 (July 20, 21, 22, 2026)

During Week 3, the impeachment court granted the prosecution’s request to subpoena Duterte’s bank, tax, and Anti-Money Laundering Council records while the House prosecution panel concluded its presentation of evidence on Article IV involving alleged grave threats.

The week also saw the prosecution’s final witness testify that Duterte’s controversial remarks against President Marcos and other officials constitute an active assassination plot, while lawmakers rejected the OVP’s request for the Senate to shoulder the catering expenses of the defense team.

ICYMI: Sara Duterte impeachment trial Week 3 highlights

Highlights: Day 9 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 22, 2026

ICYMI: Day 8 playlist of Sara Duterte impeachment trial

Highlights: Day 8 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 21, 2026

Highlights: Day 7 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 20, 2026

WEEK 2 (July 13, 14, 15, 2026)

The Senate impeachment trial of Duterte shifted focus during this week from witness testimony to a key legal battle over access to her financial records, as senator-judges heard oral arguments on whether to subpoena her bank accounts, tax returns, and Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) documents in connection with Article II of the Articles of Impeachment, which alleges unexplained wealth and undeclared assets.

The impeachment court deferred its ruling until July 20, saying it needed more time to study the legal issues raised by both the prosecution and the defense.

ICYMI: Sara Duterte impeachment trial Week 2 highlights

Highlights: Day 6 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 15, 2026

Highlights: Day 5 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 14, 2026

Highlights: Day 4 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 13, 2026

WEEK 1 (July 6, 7, 8, 2026)

The Senate impeachment court completed the first week of Duterte’s trial, with proceedings focused on Article IV, which accuses her of making grave threats against Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Over the first three trial days, senator-judges settled procedural issues, heard opening statements from both sides, and began receiving evidence from the prosecution through its first witness, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Senior Agent John Mark Calilung.

The week also saw legal challenges outside the courtroom, including a petition before the Supreme Court seeking to halt the proceedings.

ICYMI: Sara Duterte impeachment trial Week 1 highlights

Day 3 recap: Sara aide subpoenaed as Week 1 of impeachment trial ends

Day 2 recap: Kill-threat video takes center stage in impeachment trial

PLAYLIST: Key moments from Day 2 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial

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Highlights: Day 1 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | July 6, 2026