WHY ARTICLE I IS THE FOCAL POINT OF VP SARA DUTERTE'S IMPEACHMENT TRIAL

As the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte opens on July 6, 2026, Article I is expected to dominate the proceedings, with House prosecutors dedicating 31 of their 62 proposed trial days to presenting evidence and witnesses related to the charge. The Senate impeachment court later approved a 92-day trial calendar, with the prosecution and defense sharing the allotted trial days.

Article I accuses Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and betrayal of public trust through the alleged systematic misuse, misappropriation, and irregular liquidation of confidential funds while serving as Vice President and Education Secretary. Prosecutors allege the case involves ₱500 million in confidential funds released to the Office of the Vice President and ₱112.5 million spent from the Department of Education's confidential funds, for a total of ₱612.5 million.

House prosecutors say Article I requires the largest number of witnesses because of the volume of documentary evidence that must be authenticated before the impeachment court. Testimony is expected from officials of the Commission on Audit (COA), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and other government agencies involved in previous House hearings.

The allegations stem from COA findings and House investigations that questioned the liquidation of confidential funds, including notices of disallowance and issues involving supporting documents submitted for confidential fund expenditures. These findings form a significant part of the prosecution's evidence under Article I.

Vice President Duterte has consistently denied any wrongdoing. Her camp maintains that the confidential funds were lawfully spent and argues that the names appearing in the liquidation documents were authorized aliases used in intelligence operations, rejecting allegations of fund misuse.

With half of the prosecution's allotted trial days devoted to Article I, the confidential funds issue is expected to be the centerpiece of the impeachment proceedings and could play a decisive role in the Senate's eventual judgment.