Vice President Sara Duterte declared that the fourth day of her Senate impeachment trial confirmed what she has maintained throughout the proceedings — that the case against her rests on unsupported allegations rather than credible proof.
In a written statement released July 14, 2026, Duterte said the country “witnessed what I have been saying all along: the complaint is not supported by evidence.” She accused the prosecution of “repeatedly claiming that there were threats when none existed, inventing an assassin where there was none, and fabricating evidence to support those claims,” arguing that such actions “undermine the integrity of public institutions, erode public trust, waste public resources, and corrupt the search for truth.” She closed by asserting that “the rule of law depends on facts, not fiction.”
The statement followed a trial day dominated by testimony from National Bureau of Investigation regional director Jeremy Lotoc, the prosecution’s second witness. Lotoc testified that the NBI found intent, motive, and capability on Duterte’s part to carry out alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, describing the threats as “real and serious.” The testimony centered on Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which concerns the grave threats Duterte allegedly made ahead of her November 23, 2024 online press conference.
Duterte’s reference to “inventing an assassin” appears aimed at a key admission during questioning. According to GMA News, Lotoc said under examination by Senator-Judge Bam Aquino that the NBI had yet to gather validated information on the identity of the supposed hitman allegedly contracted to kill the president and his family. Her defense team, which denies she hired anyone, seized on that point, and separately argued that NBI recommendations are not binding on the Department of Justice or the courts.
Prosecutors offered a starkly different assessment of the day. House prosecutor Joel Chua said Lotoc’s testimony made the case against the vice president even more “airtight,” while the prosecution panel said it remains focused on building its case rather than counting the votes needed for conviction.
The proceedings surfaced procedural friction as well. The defense opposed a prosecution request to present NBI Director Melvin Matibag ahead of schedule, citing the five-day rule on surprise witnesses; Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian ruled that Matibag will instead be presented July 20. Senator-Judge Imee Marcos, for her part, flagged discrepancies in the timeline of events between the official subpoena and Lotoc’s executed affidavit.
