Supreme Court Clears Path for Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial as Audit Testimony Continues

The Philippine Supreme Court dismissed petitions filed by Vice President Sara Duterte and a group of lawyers challenging the House of Representatives' impeachment proceedings. The court ruled that the petitions had become moot because the Articles of Impeachment had already been transmitted to the Senate. This ruling removes the legal challenges against the efforts to oust the Vice President and allows the Senate impeachment trial to proceed.

During the 13th day of the trial on August 5, 2026, the prosecution focused on the alleged misuse of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd). Prosecution witness Roderick Wamil, a former state auditor from the Commission on Audit (COA), testified that the OVP failed to submit several required supporting documents. Wamil described several irregularities, including the use of acknowledgement receipts instead of official receipts for supplies and medicines, and an attempt by the agency to request an audit query instead of an audit observation memorandum.

Defense counsel Michael Poa argued that the meeting between the OVP and COA regarding these funds was not illegal and was intended to clarify auditing procedures. A conflict of interest concern regarding Poa was raised by Senator judge Erwin Tulfo, but presiding officer Chiz Escudero ruled that Poa could continue as counsel since he is not a respondent in the case.

A heated exchange occurred between Senator judge Imee Marcos and Wamil over who is held accountable for confidential funds. Marcos argued that the accountable officers were the special disbursing officers, not the Vice President. Wamil countered that the head of the agency is responsible for approving cash advances and overseeing their utilization. Senator judge Risa Hontiveros also questioned Wamil regarding the OVP's use of 24.93 million pesos in confidential funds for medicines classified as payment of reward.

Other senator judges, including Ping Lacson, noted gaps in auditing policies. Lacson pointed out that COA auditors lack security clearances to independently verify the identities of signatories on receipts. When asked by Senator judge Bam Aquino if the names on the OVP receipts were real, Poa declined to answer, citing legal strategy.