Vice president‑elect Sara Duterte takes her oath at San Pedro Square, Davao City. (City Government of Davao)
Vice President Sara Duterte appeared before the Senate as her trial entered its second day on July 7. However, she later skipped the proceedings, declaring, “In this bloodbath and bludgeoning, I will be bloodied but unbowed.”
The proceeding viewed a clip of the November 2024 video in which Duterte allegedly threatened to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she was to be killed. To establish stronger evidence, the Senate issued subpoenas to hear testimonies from National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) officers, including Director Melvin Matibag and the long-time aide of Duterte, Zuleika Tanglao Lopez.
Matibag is expected to identify the grave threats, probe results, collect items and evidence, as well as the underlying reasons for the institution to consider Duterte’s statement as a problem.
As with Lopez, the court deemed her testimonies “material, relevant and necessary” given her position at the Office of the Vice President and she will also be questioned regarding irregular funds usage and liquidation.
The trial led by Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, the trial commenced after he got 12 against 8 votes. On day one, the trial focused on formal regulations and followed by reading the charges. Duterte was absent from the opening session, stating, “the decision to personally testify is a matter of legal strategy and constitutional rights.”
The Malacañang Palace spokeswoman Claire Castro said, “As a Filipino and as a lawyer, it is better for a person who is accused to face the witnesses against her.” Castro added that the president was not paying attention to the proceedings and was “not fixated on it.”
According to the Philippine constitution, conviction requires the vote of at least two-thirds of all senator-judges (16 out of 24 senators). If found guilty, Duterte would be removed from office and permanently disqualified from holding any public office.
These proceedings against Sara Duterte may present shifts in the upcoming 2028 election, in which she leads the polls. Even if the conviction does not materialise, the multi-months trial will also prevent Duterte clans from campaigning to garner public support.
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