Sara Duterte Pre-Trial Evidence Marked on 2 Articles

The Closed-Door Conference at the Senate

The pre-trial conference took place inside the Senate chamber on Thursday, June 18, 2026, with doors closed to the public and media. Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian presided over the gathering that followed the Senate's formal convention as an impeachment court on May 18.

Both Duterte's legal defense team and the House prosecution panel attended the session. Michael Poa, Duterte's lawyer and spokesman, later described the atmosphere as focused on work rather than personal conflict, using the phrase "trabaho lang, walang personalan."

Progress on Marking Documentary Evidence

The defense and prosecution completed the marking of documentary evidence for two of the four Articles of Impeachment. These covered Article III on direct bribery and Article IV on death threats and live-streamed seditious remarks against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos, and Leyte 1st District Representative Martin Romualdez.

Poa called the session productive despite some disagreements. The pre-trial will resume on Monday, June 22, to finish marking evidence on the remaining articles before the full trial begins on July 6, 2026.

(ANC 24/7)

House Prosecution Panel Members and Strategy

Batangas Representative Gerville Luistro, who chairs the House justice committee, leads the prosecution panel. Other members include Representatives Jose Manuel Diokno, Leila de Lima, Ysabel Maria Zamora, Lorenz Defensor, Jonathan Keith Flores, Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, Lordan Suan, Joel Chua, Terry Ridon, and Kaka Bag-ao.

The panel has listed 57 witnesses. Luistro stated that the trial itself could stretch until the end of September. House prosecution spokesman Representative Zia Alonto Adiong from Lanao del Sur called Duterte's pre-trial brief a "smokescreen, not a flashlight," while House Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V labeled it "ampaw."

(Global 1 News)

Defense Team Preparation and Witness List

Duterte's camp filed its formal answer on June 1, asking the Senate to dismiss the case. The defense has prepared between 25 and 30 witnesses, with some held in reserve for later stages of the proceedings.

Poa emphasized that the team approached the pre-trial as a necessary step in the legal process. The defense continues to argue that the articles lack sufficient basis under the Constitution.

Questions Over Senate Voting Rules and Presiding Officer

Luistro highlighted an ongoing debate about whether a conviction requires a two-thirds vote of the full Senate membership or only of senators physically present during the vote. Senate President Gatchalian confirmed that the body has not yet decided who will serve as the presiding judge for the trial proper.

Reports have mentioned Senator Francis Escudero as a possible choice. Senator Jinggoy Estrada remains barred from serving in that role because of his 90-day preventive suspension from the Sandiganbayan.

Impact on Communities from Manila to Davao

The impeachment process directly affects families in barangays across the country who rely on steady governance for programs funded through the national budget. Workers in Cebu and farmers in the provinces watch how political divisions in Congress could delay legislation on wages and agricultural support.

OFWs sending remittances from abroad and students preparing for the new school year under DepEd face uncertainty when national attention turns to prolonged Senate proceedings instead of immediate policy action. The outcome will shape public trust in institutions such as the Senate and the House of Representatives for years to come.

Broader Implications for Philippine Politics

The pre-trial conference sets the stage for a trial that will test Senate procedures and the strength of evidence presented by both sides. Lawmakers from different regions continue to weigh how their votes will resonate with voters in their home districts.

Communities in Quezon City and Baguio discuss the case in sari-sari stores and jeepney terminals, connecting the legal developments to daily concerns about accountability and leadership. The coming weeks will determine how these national proceedings translate into concrete effects on local governance and public services.