ICYMI: Sara Duterte impeachment trial Week 13 highlights

MANILA, Philippines – The week’s dominant development came Sunday when Manila Rep. Joel Chua confirmed that the prosecution panel would no longer pursue Article III, the bribery charge alleging that Vice President Sara Duterte distributed cash envelopes to Department of Education officials through a subordinate.  

Lead counsel and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro is expected to deliver the formal manifestation dropping the charge orally before the court at the next session. 

READ: ICYMI: Sara Duterte impeachment trial Week 12 highlights

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Bicol Saro Rep. Terry Ridon defended the decision, saying that evidence of alleged wrongdoing had already been presented to the Senate sitting as an impeachment court and that the decision now rests with it. The Palace questioned the move, with press officer Claire Castro asking whether withdrawing the bribery allegation would shortchange Filipinos who want to know the whole truth. 

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The Supreme Court cleared the path for the trial to continue under the revised conviction threshold when it dismissed, on procedural grounds including lack of standing and prematurity, three separate petitions challenging the impeachment court’s September 23 ruling that 14 votes would suffice to convict.  

The ruling was unanimous, with acting Chief Justice Marvic Leonen presiding. The impeachment court spokesperson called the swift dismissal proof that the court’s proceedings are constitutionally bullet-proof. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was said to respect the high court’s decision. 

Day 30 (Sept. 28, 2026)

READ: Highlights: Day 30 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Sept. 28, 2026

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PhilGEPS Division Chief Rendell Sopeña testified about system features designed to flag possible collusion in government contracts.

The impeachment court also issued a stern warning to House prosecutor Terry Ridon over his earlier sub judice remarks, accepting his explanation without formally reprimanding him.

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The prosecution and defense meanwhile clashed over the admission of Duterte’s bank records. Prosecutor Chel Diokno said the records, submitted by banks under Senate subpoena, were covered by a request for admission aimed at determining which evidence remained disputed.

The defense had objected to the request.

The court also granted Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte’s request to defer his testimony to Sept. 29 and 30 to allow him to prepare subpoenaed documents.

The defense waived cross-examination of PNP Firearms and Explosives Office chief P/Maj. Joericson Sangalang after the court clarified that the firearm values he presented were market prices, not acquisition costs. Sangalang said Duterte has 22 registered firearms, while her husband Manases Carpio has 29.

The trial also produced lighter moments and side disputes. Presiding Officer Escudero publicly asked colleagues to nudge Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr., who fell asleep while a witness was being examined, suggesting the lawmaker rest somewhere other than behind the witness. 

READ: Highlights: Day 30 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Sept. 28, 2026

Day 31 (Sept. 29, 2026)

This was the week’s most dramatic courtroom moment when Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte testified as a hostile witness, declared as such by Presiding Officer Francis Escudero after a motion by prosecution counsel Theodore Te.  

Baste Duterte said under oath that he only learned of GenCorp Industries Inc. when it was raised before the impeachment court, despite the company having won 19 city government contracts worth P33.2 million during his tenure. 

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian repeatedly pressed the mayor on why GenCorp kept winning contracts one after another from 2022 through 2026. 

READ: Highlights: Day 31 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Sept. 29, 2026

Day 32 (Oct. 1, 2026)

Land Registration Authority officials also testified that two properties acquired by VP Duterte’s husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, did not match entries in her SALNs.

Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV became the week’s most contested off-court figure.

On Day 32, Luistro announced in open court that the prosecution had finally decided not to present Trillanes as a witness on the unexplained wealth charge.

Trillanes then said he had himself asked the prosecution to withdraw his name to relieve the panel of the pressure it was going through, without elaborating on the nature of that pressure.

Also, the AMLC testimony that was supposed to begin on Day 32 was deferred to Monday, October 5, after defense lead counsel Sheila Sison raised objections over AMLC confidentiality provisions and requested more time to review voluminous financial records, causing the court to adjourn at 3:30 p.m. instead of the scheduled 6:30 p.m. and cancel Friday’s session. 

The prosecution countered that AMLC confidentiality is not absolute, noting the agency routinely shares records with courts and foreign financial intelligence units.  The impeachment court separately granted subpoenas for BIR, bank, and insurance company representatives to testify during the week of October 5 to 9.  

Senate President Gatchalian said he was optimistic a verdict could be reached by mid-to-late November. ^[4]

READ: Highlights: Day 32 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Oct. 1, 2026

The following day, at a press conference in San Juan City, Trillanes alleged that more than P319 million from the Chinese government and China-based corporations flowed into CALE88 Foods Corp., a banana chip company linked to Carpio. He also alleged that a food company with VP Duterte as a shareholder once had a fictitious president. Malacañang said the China-funds claim, if proven, could not be ignored and raised national security concerns. 

Senator-judge Panfilo Lacson said Trillanes’s press conference revelations had no probative value because they were made outside the court. The impeachment court spokesperson said Trillanes’s statements would not be the basis for any verdict. 

VP Duterte’s camp called the allegations malicious fabrications and black propaganda, adding that Trillanes’s refusal to appear before the court showed his claims could not survive legal scrutiny. 

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Prosecution spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa Jr. maintained, however, that the allegations are serious enough to be tested against official financial records, including bank and tax documents, to be presented starting October 5. /dp