A new witness testified Monday before the Senate impeachment court regarding the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million [1] in confidential funds by Vice President Sara Duterte.
This testimony is central to the legal effort to remove the Vice President from office. The proceedings focus on whether the administration of these funds violated national laws, potentially establishing a basis for impeachment under Article 1 of the charges.
The hearing, held Aug. 3, 2026, marked the 11th day [2] of the trial in Manila. The House prosecution panel said it was presenting the witness specifically to address the allegations surrounding the ₱612.5 million [1] in funds.
According to the prosecution panel, the witness provides evidence pertaining to Article 1 of the Articles of Impeachment [3]. This specific article focuses on the management, and expenditure, of confidential funds allocated to the Vice President's office.
Earlier in the trial, the proceedings moved through various stages of evidence gathering. By July 13, the trial had entered its second week [4] as prosecutors sought to build a comprehensive case. While some previous testimonies touched upon other articles of impeachment, the current focus has returned to the financial allegations.
Other aspects of the case have faced challenges in the evidentiary phase. The National Bureau of Investigation said it found no validated information to pursue the identity of a hitman allegedly contracted by the Vice President to kill President Ferdinand "Bongbong" [5].
Despite the lack of evidence regarding those specific threats, the prosecution continues to prioritize the financial discrepancies. The panel said it will continue presenting witnesses to substantiate the claims of fund misuse [3].
“The House prosecution panel on Monday is set to present a new witness to testify on Article 1”
The shift in focus toward Article 1 suggests that the prosecution is prioritizing financial misconduct over more volatile, unverified claims of violence. By centering the trial on the ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, the prosecution is attempting to build a case based on audit trails and fiscal records, which are generally more sustainable in a legal setting than hearsay regarding assassination plots.
