Alleged confidential funds money trail takes center stage in impeachment trial's 3rd week

Trial Moves Into Third Week With Focus on Funds

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte reached its third week in the Senate as of July 17, 2026. Prosecutors opened the day by confirming that the third article of impeachment, which centers on alleged misuse of confidential funds, will require the most time to present among the four articles under review.

Prosecution Outlines Scope of Third Article

During the July 17 session, the prosecution team stated that the confidential funds article covers allocations and disbursements tied to two offices: the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. Vice President Duterte led the Department of Education until mid-2024, and the article examines records spanning multiple years across both agencies.

Tracing Allocations and Disbursements

Prosecutors explained that the presentation will involve detailed tracing of confidential fund allocations and subsequent disbursements. They noted that the dual-office coverage makes this article more extensive than the others, requiring review of records from both the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education over the relevant period.

Four Articles Under Senate Review

The Senate is hearing all four articles of impeachment. The prosecution has indicated that the third article will occupy the largest share of presentation time due to the volume of documentation involved. The remaining articles continue to move forward in sequence, though the confidential funds portion is expected to set the overall pace for this phase of the trial.

Current Status and Expected Timeline

As of July 17, 2026, the trial remains in its third week with the prosecution actively presenting evidence on the third article. No final resolution has been reached on any of the four articles. Prosecutors referenced internal records and fund documentation during the session to support their outline of the case timeline, and they confirmed that further details on specific disbursements will be introduced in upcoming hearings.

Next Steps in the Proceedings

The prosecution team plans to continue its presentation on the confidential funds article in the coming days, with emphasis on the extended period covered by the two agencies. Senate proceedings are scheduled to resume with additional segments of the third article before moving to the fourth. The trial schedule remains subject to adjustments based on the volume of evidence still to be presented.

By Bella Reyes, Staff Writer