Prosecutors filed a pre-trial brief on June 15, 2026 [1], stating that the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte cannot be dismissed without a trial.
This legal move prevents the case from being dropped prematurely, forcing a confrontation in the Senate that could determine the vice president's political future. The proceedings highlight a deepening rift between the executive branch and the legislative prosecution panel.
The House prosecution panel and private prosecutors submitted the brief to the Senate on Monday, June 15, 2026 [1]. They said that the Philippine Constitution requires the Senate to hear all evidence before reaching a final verdict [2]. According to the prosecutors, any attempt to dismiss the charges without a full trial would be unconstitutional [2].
In addition to the filing, the House prosecution panel said to the Senate on Monday that the response provided by the vice president was a "non-answer" [2]. This suggests the prosecution believes the defense has failed to adequately address the allegations brought forward in the impeachment articles.
Private prosecutors also emphasized their autonomy from the current administration. "We don't take cues from Malacañang," private prosecutors said [3]. This statement underscores a commitment to pursue the case regardless of potential pressure from the presidential palace.
The legal battle now centers on whether the Senate will proceed with the trial or seek a way to resolve the matter without a full evidentiary hearing. The prosecution maintains that the legal framework leaves no room for a summary dismissal.
“"We don't take cues from Malacañang"”
The refusal of prosecutors to accept a dismissal without a trial ensures that the impeachment process will move into a public evidentiary phase. By framing the trial as a constitutional necessity, the prosecution has limited the Senate's ability to resolve the political crisis through a quiet administrative exit, making a high-profile legal showdown more likely.
