Politics · Other · 7 hrs ago
Sara Duterte’s lawyers begin defence in Philippine impeachment trial
Sara Duterte’s lawyers began her defence on Nov 9 in her impeachment trial in the Philippines.
The case centres on allegations that the vice-president accumulated wealth beyond what she declared; she denies wrongdoing and calls the proceedings political harassment.
Prosecutors withdrew three other charges, leaving unexplained wealth as the focus of their case.
The defence’s first witness challenged a claim about a property linked to Duterte, saying tax and assessment records support the view that it appeared in her 2024 asset declaration.
Prosecutors’ financial analyst estimated that Duterte had more than 800 million pesos in unexplained assets, including remittances from entities in China and Hong Kong.
A conviction could end her presidential ambitions, as she has led opinion polls for the 2028 election; her defence needs support from more than one-third of senators to ensure her political survival.
Her lawyers plan to call 24 witnesses, including accountants and bankers, and hope to finish the trial by the end of 2026.
It is not yet clear whether Duterte will testify; she has mostly stayed away from the proceedings since they began in July.
Sara Duterte’s lawyers began presenting her defence on Nov 9 in her Philippine impeachment trial, challenging allegations of unexplained wealth.
The defence called Jaime Adalin, an assessor from Duterte’s home town of Davao City, as its first of 24 planned witnesses.
Adalin testified about records that the defence said support its claim that a property linked to Duterte was included in her 2024 asset declaration.
A prosecution analyst estimated in October that Duterte had more than 800 million pesos in unexplained assets.
Duterte denies wrongdoing and has described the proceedings as political harassment.
- Who
- Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte and her lawyers are defending against the impeachment allegations.
- What
- Her lawyers began presenting evidence in an impeachment trial focused on allegations of unexplained wealth.
- When
- Nov 9, 2026.
- Where
- The Philippines. The first witness was an assessor from Davao City.
- Why
- Prosecutors allege that Duterte accumulated wealth beyond what her declared income and assets could explain.
Prosecution
Defence
Unexplained wealth
Prosecution
Prosecutors allege Duterte amassed wealth beyond what could be explained by her declared income and assets.
Defence
The defence disputes the allegations and says a property linked to Duterte was disclosed in her 2024 asset declaration.
Property disclosure
Prosecution
Prosecutors claimed a property linked to Duterte was missing from her asset declarations.
Defence
The defence called that claim “malicious and completely false” and presented assessment and tax records in response.
Proceedings in Duterte’s impeachment trial began.
A forensic financial analyst testifying for the prosecution estimated Duterte had more than 800 million pesos in unexplained assets.
Duterte’s lawyers began presenting their defence and called Jaime Adalin as their first witness.
- Defence witnesses
- 24 planned witnesses
- First defence witness
- Jaime Adalin, an assessor in Davao City
- Prosecution estimate
- More than 800 million pesos in unexplained assets
- Asset declaration at issue
- Duterte’s 2024 statement of assets and liabilities
- Trial target
- The defence hopes the trial can conclude by the end of 2026
What people are saying
malicious and completely false
bloodied but unbowed
too early to say