LIVE UPDATES: Impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte | July 8, 2026

VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial ends Week 1 as court subpoenas Office of the Vice President chief of staff Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez.

Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team on Wednesday maintained that her threat vs Pres. Marcos is “unconventional” but “justified”

The decision of Sara Duterte’s lawyers to use the video clip of Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez highlighted the need to present her as a witness.

VP Sara Duterte’s assassination threat against Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was absolute,  an agent of the NBIK told the impeachment court.

The impeachment court will issue a subpoena to Vice President Sara Duterte’s Chief of Staff Atty. Zuleika Lopez on Wednesday.

Senate impeachment court spokesperson lawyer Reginald Tongol holds a post-trial press briefing on Wednesday,

Impeachment Article IV refers to Sara Duterte’s alleged assassination threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady…

Malacañang on Wednesday backed Sen. Francis Escudero’s election as presiding officer of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The House prosecution panel holds a press briefing on Wednesday following the conclusion of Day 3 of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

VP Sara Duterte’s defense team holds a press briefing on Wednesday following the conclusion of the third day of her impeachment trial.

Defense: No proof VP Sara hired an assassinDefense counsel Mark Vinluan argued that the prosecution itself acknowledged Vice President Sara Duterte's Nov. 23, 2024 statements did not "100%" prove she had contracted an assassin."There is no proof of any contracting of an… pic.twitter.com/8aeahZXW7e

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

Prosecution says they will present their next witness, NBI Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc, on the next trial day on Monday, July 13. Other witnesses next week:– Capt. Belinda Bello, House Office of Sergeant-at-Arms Legislative.– NBI Director Melvin Matibag#VPonTrial |… pic.twitter.com/7rOpBUvaQf

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung asked to submit his credentials, upon request of Senator-judge Robin Padilla, before he is dismissed by the impeachment court. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/MC7htIAVM2Watch the live stream here:… pic.twitter.com/efO4PWY7Hf

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

LOOK: Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano asks NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung how the NBI characterized VP Sara Duterte's statement, particularly the phrase, "Kapag pinatay ako…"Calilung says the statement contained a condition but could still be carried out by a third… pic.twitter.com/rVen6wLZYH

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

An NBI agent admitted he had no personal knowledge of the alleged hitman Vice President Sara Duterte had supposedly hired to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team on Wednesday opted not to play her full online press conference that became infamous in 2024.

LOOK: Presiding Officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero reminds senator-judges to avoid allowing either the prosecution or the defense to argue conclusions of law or fact while examining witnesses, stressing that evidence should be elicited through witness testimony.The reminder comes… pic.twitter.com/8q8j7rygYJ

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

LOOK: Senator-judge Bam Aquino asks NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung whether, aside from examining the videos in which Vice President Sara Duterte allegedly made assassination threats, he also investigated the alleged "hitman."Calilung says he only examined the videos.… pic.twitter.com/ad6BcgqZcA

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

Defense counsel CJ Narvasa starts cross-examination of witness NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung. Virgil Ligutan, counsel for House prosecutors, objects to Narvasa’s yes or no question. #VPonTrialFollow our live updates here: https://t.co/MC7htIAVM2Watch the live stream… pic.twitter.com/81HKvuMkr0

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

Vice President Duterte’s defense team entered their appearance during the first day of the impeachment trial, with lawyer Sheila Sison as the lead counsel. #VPonTrialFollow our live updates here: https://t.co/MC7htIAnWuWatch the live stream here: https://t.co/3rzC1oFpGy pic.twitter.com/YCgERWSUGk

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

The defense plays portions of Vice President Sara Duterte's Nov. 23, 2024 online press conference showing OVP chief of staff Zuleika Lopez in tears, saying she feared for her life while under House custody after being cited in contempt.Defense counsel asks NBI Senior Agent John… pic.twitter.com/9SkgY6OjjX

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense counsel said their group knew nothing about the Supreme Court petition challenging Escudero’s authority.

Prosecution spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa Jr. discusses what to expect on the third day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

Chief impeachment prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro had said that the conviction threshold should be lowered if some senators

Seeking President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s authorization to unveil the tax documents of Vice President Sara Duterte was considered as an option.

“We will play various parts, not the whole”Defense prepares to present portions of the November 23, 2024 video where Vice President Sara Duterte allegedly made assassination threats.To recall, defense counsel requested yesterday for the video (2hrs long) to be played in full.… pic.twitter.com/ATVEbRdtmu

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

‘WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO IF WE BELIEVE IT IS NECESSARY’Senator-judge Pia Cayetano maintains the need for strict enforcement of the impeachment trial rules after moving to strike the prosecution's response to Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros' question from the record, which… pic.twitter.com/w7SAdjEx1A

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

Defense counsel CJ Narvasa asked the witness NBI agent John Mark Calilung whether he received training from Maxcor Interventures and showed him the company’s articles of partnership and a screenshot of its website.Prosecutor Virgil Ligutan interrupts, says defense should ask… pic.twitter.com/l0IotdiVs7

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

‘THAT’S UNFAIR’Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano says it is unfair to view the defense team's objections as the cause of delays on the second day of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, while urging fellow senator-judges to avoid questions that could prejudice the… pic.twitter.com/ze17lLwWzW

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

LOOK: Defense counsel presents a series of documents to NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, prompting multiple objections from the prosecution.The prosecution argues that some of the documents are irrelevant, some questions are misleading and compound, and the sources of… pic.twitter.com/v0Czavt9eH

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

FIRST OBJECTION OF THE DAYDefense counsel CJ Narvasa begins the cross-examination of NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung.Narvasa asks: You said that you were trained for two weeks for photos, sir. My questions are answerable by yes or no.The prosecution objects, arguing… pic.twitter.com/w7s23hF5yW

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

Presiding Officer Francis Escudero addresses Senator-judge Pia Cayetano’s motion to strike from the record the prosecution's response to Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros' question: "Why are these impeachable acts?"Escudero says that since the response has already been heard by the… pic.twitter.com/qmwJMaXcoa

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

#VPonTrial Day 3: The Senate impeachment court resumes proceedings on Article IV, which centers on the grave threats allegation against Vice President Sara Duterte.The defense is expected to begin its cross-examination of NBI Senior Agent John Mark Calilung, before the… pic.twitter.com/KfgFL2FUSN

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

Michael Poa, counsel and spokesperson for Sara Duterte, holds a press briefing on Wednesday ahead of the third day of the impeachment trial.

UPDATE: Palace Press Officer Claire Castro on Vice President Sara Duterte's 'bloodbath' statement at the Senate on Tuesday:"Ikinatuwa natin na sa ngayon ay may nagiging basehan na si Bise Presidente sa kanyang mga sinasabi."Feeling niya na bloodbath ito at alam naman natin na… pic.twitter.com/ATMVR7mqw7

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

‘AS IF NOT BEING MEMBERS OF THE BAR, WE WILL BE LESS JUDICIOUS’Sen. Panfilo Lacson commended his fellow senator-judges for maintaining their composure despite a colleague “lecturing” them since the first day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. #VPonTrial pic.twitter.com/pPJfGcciIj

— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) July 8, 2026

The House prosecution panel holds a press briefing on Wednesday ahead of the third day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

MANILA, Philippines — Catch all the major developments from the second day of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. Inquirer.net compiled the day’s key moments, witness testimonies, courtroom exchanges and arguments, and press briefings into a single playlist for easier viewing./dp

The Senate impeachment court enters Day 3 of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday, July 8.

The impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte entered its evidentiary phase on Tuesday as House prosecutors presented their first witness.

VP Sara Duterte walked into the Senate before noon Tuesday, not to honor the summons from the impeachment court but to meet her lawyers.

Israelito Torreon and eight other lawyers questioned before the SC the authority of Sen. Escudero as presiding officer in the impeach trial.