The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte entered its second day on Tuesday as the Senate continued hearing the case following the opening of the trial on Monday, July 6.
Before the proceedings resumed, Duterte made a surprise appearance at the Senate and delivered a brief but cryptic statement before leaving.
"In this bloodbath and bludgeoning, I will be bloodied but unbowed," Duterte said.
Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano lead the opening prayer.
A roll call of senator-judges followed, with 20 senators present, allowing the Senate Impeachment Court to declare a quorum and proceed with the day's proceedings.
During the session, Senate Impeachment Court Presiding Officer Francis 'Chiz' Escudero reaffirmed his earlier ruling that a minimum of 16 votes is required to convict Vice President Duterte.
The issue was raised by Senator-judge Panfilo 'Ping' Lacson, who sought clarification on whether Escudero's ruling could be challenged before the Supreme Court.
Lacson cited portions of Escudero's opening statement delivered after he was elected presiding officer on the first day of the trial, particularly his pronouncement that 16 votes constitute the constitutional threshold for conviction.
Asked whether such a ruling is justiciable, Escudero replied in the affirmative.
"Yes, I believe it may now be considered a justiciable controversy," Escudero said. "But it is not for us to dictate that, but the courts."
Escudero added that his ruling remains in effect because it was neither objected to nor appealed by any member of the impeachment court.
"It is the ruling of the chair not objected to or appealed by any member of the court, therefore it stands," he said.
Later in the proceedings, House prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan asked the defense panel whether Vice President Duterte would personally appear before the impeachment court.
Kapunan noted that Duterte had earlier been seen inside the Senate premises before the day's proceedings began.
During Tuesday's proceedings, House Prosecutor Lorenz Defensor underscored the fourth article of impeachment, which concerns allegations that the Vice President made grave threats.
"Can we continue to entrust one of the highest constitutional offices to a public official who on multiple occasions, purposely, willfully, and repeatedly resorted to threats of violence against the very institutions that she swore to protect?" Defensor said in his manifestation before the Senate Impeachment Court.
Defensor also argued that the Vice President's alleged actions and statements constitute more than ordinary criminal offenses.
"Ang mga kilos at salita ng bise presidente ay hindi dapat ituring na simpleng krimen sa ilalim ng batas kundi tuwirang paglabag sa Saligang Batas," Defensor said.
"Accountability must apply to all or none at all," he added.
The House prosecution panel then presented its first witness, senior agent of the National Bureau of Investigation, John Mark Calilung.
However, Duterte's defense team moved to exclude Calilung from testifying.
Escudero denied the motion, allowing the witness to take the stand.
During the presentation of evidence, documents were introduced showing that the NBI had requested Meta Platforms to preserve a copy of a video in which Duterte allegedly made statements against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
He told the impeachment court that one of the key pieces of evidence was a video of the Vice President's online press conference in November 2024, which was posted on the Facebook page of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
"One of the pieces we gathered is the video of the November 2024 online press conference held by the Office of the Vice President and posted on the Facebook page of Harry Roque," Calilung testified.
The defense objected to the introduction and identification of the video, arguing that it was not a certified true copy.
However, Escudero overruled the objection and allowed the evidence to be presented.
The presiding officer likewise rejected the defense's objection questioning Calilung's competence to testify on Meta's preservation process in relation to the requested video.
VP Sara Duterte Video Evidence Presented Before Senate Impeachment Court
The NBI presented a flash drive containing Vice President Sara Duterte’s November 2024 press conference video, which includes her alleged threats against several government officials.
NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung said the recording has a total duration of 2 hours, 26 minutes, and 10 seconds.
The prosecution said only relevant portions would be shown, while the defense’s request to play the full video was denied by Presiding Officer Sen. Chiz Escudero.
Cayetano pushes review of full VP Duterte video before excerpts
Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano questioned whether the defense would ask the Senate impeachment court to view the full two-hour footage of Vice President Sara Duterte’s press conference instead of only selected clips.
Cayetano said, “If I have to watch a two-hour clip, let’s just get it over with,” stressing that the full context should be seen before reviewing highlighted portions to avoid possible pre-judgment.
The Senate impeachment court is currently deliberating Article IV of the impeachment complaint, which accuses Duterte of issuing grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
VP Duterte video clip on alleged assassin plot presented in impeachment trial
A two-minute and 18-second portion of Vice President Sara Duterte’s 2024 online media briefing was presented during the second day of her impeachment trial in relation to the grave threats allegation against her.
In the video, Duterte was heard saying, “Kapag pinatay ako, patayin mo si BBM, si Liza Araneta, at si Martin Romualdez. No joke, no joke.”
The clip was presented as part of the prosecution’s evidence in support of Article IV of the impeachment complaint.
Prosecution presents VP Duterte clips on remarks against PBBM
The House prosecution team presented video clips during the impeachment trial showing Vice President Sara Duterte’s past remarks about her relationship with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In the clips, Duterte was heard describing their relationship as “toxic” and saying she caught herself imagining “cutting off” the President’s head.
The prosecution also presented her statement about allegedly digging up the remains of former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and throwing them into the West Philippine Sea.
