LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial (July 13, 2026)

House prosecutor Representative Joel Chua on Monday said the testimony of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) witness Jeremy Lotoc further strengthened what the prosecution described as its “airtight” impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Speaking to reporters after the fourth day of the impeachment trial, the Manila congressman said Lotoc’s testimony reinforced the evidence already presented before the Senate impeachment court.

“With more reason, nung sinabi pa at sinagot ni Attorney Lotoc na airtight ’yung kaso, lalo lamang mas tumibay ang aming ebidensya,” Chua said.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Monday acknowledged that typographical errors appeared in the subpoena and affidavit of investigation issued in connection with its probe into Vice President Sara Duterte's alleged threats against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Atty. Jeremy Lotoc, NBI regional director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), admitted that both documents were mistakenly dated November 6, 2024.

House prosecutor Joel Chua on Monday said he sought security after Vice President Sara Duterte made controversial remarks in November 2024, saying he feared for his safety because the statements came from the country's second-highest official.

Speaking to reporters after the fourth day of Duterte's impeachment trial, Chua said he genuinely felt threatened when the Vice President publicly mentioned his name during the late-night online press conference that is the subject of the fourth article of impeachment.

The House prosecution team on Monday said it remains focused on building an “airtight” case against Vice President Sara Duterte instead of speculating on the number of votes needed for a conviction in her impeachment trial.

Lawyer Jay Tolosa—one of the private prosecutors on the House prosecution panel's roster, as well as the team's legal spokesperson—said the prosecution’s strategy has remained unchanged despite discussions surrounding the interpretation of the Senate’s voting threshold.

“The strategy of the prosecution has been consistent from the very start. We don’t engage in vote-counting. At the end of the day, ang priority namin dito is to establish an airtight case.”

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who sits as presiding officer of the impeachment court, has made a proposal to conduct the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the morning to early afternoon once the plenary session resumes on July 27.

“Pinanukala ko na po sa kanila na ikonsidera na gawing umaga ang impeachment trial 9 or 10 o’clock hanggang 2 o'clock ng hapon o apat o limang oras at ang sesyon ay 3 o’clock o alas-4 hanggang matapos na kami,” Escudero said in his podcast over the weekend.

(I’ve proposed that they consider holding the impeachment trial in the morning—say, from 9 or 10 o’clock until 2 o’clock in the afternoon, or for four to five hours—and scheduling the session at 3 or 4 o’clock until we finish.)

He said that it is Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian who has to decide on the proposed adjustments on the trial schedule.

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) said the alleged threats made by Vice President Sara Duterte against having President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez killed were assessed as "serious" and "real."

Testifying before the Senate impeachment court on Monday, Atty. Jeremy Lotoc, NBI regional director for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), said investigators considered at least four factors in evaluating Duterte's alleged threats, including the manner in which the statements were delivered.

Social media posts claiming that Vice President Sara Duterte's defense lawyer, Atty. Sheila Sison, is the daughter of veteran lawyer Jose Sison have circulated online following her appearance before the Senate impeachment court

A review by GMA News Online of publicly available records has so far found no evidence to support the claim.

The defense team in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte said Monday they will present a witness that who will testify on the alleged "Operation Romanov" assassination plot against Duterte and her family.

During the fourth day of the trial, Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo asked the defense if it will be presenting as witness a certain “Princess Maui” — the vlogger who floated the Operation Romanov in the controversial press conference in November 2024, which prompted the Vice President to say that she contracted someone to kill President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Defense counsel Atty. Mark Vinluan, in response, said that Princess Maui’s presentation will depend on the course of the trial.

“Your Honor, at this point, it will depend on what has been…what will be established by the prosecution. The defense reserves its right to call or not call any witness, depending on the course of the trial,” Vinluan said.

Tulfo then asked if the defense will be presenting any other witness to prove the supposed threat to the life of the Vice President and her family.

“Yes, Your Honor. That will be part of our evidence ...,” Vinluan answered.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has yet to receive any request to open the sealed green box containing the tax records of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, lawyer Mans Carpio, the Palace said Monday.

“Wala pa pong naibibigay na ano mang request, sulat sa Pangulo,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a briefing when asked if Marcos will authorize such a request.

(No request or letter has been submitted to the President so far.)

“‘Pag dumating na po ang kanilang paghiling, ito po ay aaralin at tignan po natin kung ano ang magiging aksyon ng Pangulo patungkol po diyan,” she added.

(Once their request is received, it will be studied, and we will see what action the President will take on the matter.)