Lawyers representing Vice President Sara Duterte received formal notice this week that the Senate impeachment court expects her at proceedings opening on July 6, with attendance permitted either personally or through her legal team.
The instruction stems from a summons the court issued back on 19 May 2026, which compels Duterte to “appear before the Senate of the Philippines upon notice, and to abide by, obey and perform such orders, directions and judgments as the Senate of the Philippines shall make in the premises according to the Constitution and laws of the Philippines.”
Signed by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, who presides over the court, the July 2 notice fixed the hour and venue. “You are hereby notified that trial will commence on the 6th of July at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, and are further directed to appear on said date, in person or through counsel, before the Impeachment Court at the Session Hall of the Senate of the Philippines, Pasay City,” it read. The document invoked Rule VII of the chamber’s impeachment trial procedures.
Records posted on the Senate’s website indicate the notification reached the firm Fortun, Narvasa & Salazar, which is handling Duterte’s defense.
A separate communication went out Thursday to the House of Representatives, whose prosecutors will argue the case. Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr., serving as clerk of court for the proceedings, signed the message confirming that “the Senate is ready to proceed upon the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte at the Session Hall of the Senate of the Philippines,” at the same 2 p.m. slot. The House Impeachment Secretariat logged its receipt.
Duterte’s side has rejected the charges laid out against her. The impeachment articles allege misuse of confidential funds, wealth she has not accounted for, bribery, and grave threats — accusations her legal team denied in their formal answer.
