It's time to take a look at week three of Vice President Sara Dutere's impeachment trial. What is going to be examined is all the follies being committed while court is in session. The trial is slated to last for 92 days which could take it into next year. But Senator Tulfo says the trial is being delayed by Senators seeking to lecture the lawyers.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/22/erwin-tulfo-law-101-lectures-of-senator-judges-stalling-vp-sara-trial |
For Senator Erwin Tulfo, if anything is slowing down Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, it's senator-judges who insist on giving "Law 101" lectures during the proceedings.
In an ambush interview on Wednesday, July 22, Tulfo said some senator-judges spend too much time explaining legal concepts instead of focusing on the evidence and witness testimonies presented before the court.
"Some of my fellow senator-judges seem to feel the need to lecture the lawyers and the prosecution. We waste time," Tulfo said.
He said senator-judges should simply point out errors committed by either party instead of delivering what he described as "Law 101" lectures.
"If there's a mistake, then just point it out. Say, 'That's wrong.' But if you're going to give a 'Law 101' lecture, the discussion just goes off track," he said.
According to Tulfo, discussions should remain centered on the evidence and testimonies relevant to the impeachment case, rather than revisiting basic legal principles or questioning the legal knowledge of the parties.
"We should simply focus on the evidence and the testimony. But if we keep going back to what was taught in law school—saying things like, 'This is what you should have learned,' or implying, 'You didn't learn this'—it's not relevant to the issue. That's what makes the proceedings drag on," he added.
Tulfo, however, said the Senate impeachment court should not rush the proceedings at the expense of a thorough examination of the evidence.
He said that while they acknowledge the desire to speed up the trial, he stressed that senator-judges must careful
ly review the evidence to ensure that no crucial pieces are overlooked or left inadequately explained. He added that simply presenting evidence is not enough, as it must also be properly examined and understood before the court reaches a decision.
Which Senators are using this stalling tactic? Regrettably, Tulfo does not say.
Though he is no lawyer, Senator Robin Padilla is using his own stalling techniques. Bizarrely he questioned whether or not the prosecution was being biased and one-sided!
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/22/robin-padilla-tells-prosecution-sana-hindi-one-sided |
Senator-judge Robin Padilla told the prosecution on Wednesday, July 22, not to be "one-sided" as he questioned the credibility of their witnesses.
During Wednesday's impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Padilla aimed at the House prosecution panel, particularly in the witnesses it had chosen to present before the Senate impeachment court.
Padilla appealed to the prosecution to avoid presenting witnesses whose credibility could be questioned, saying the impeachment court should not rely on individuals allegedly facing perjury complaints.
"The person on trial here was elected by 32 million Filipinos," Padilla said, urging the prosecution to be more cautious in selecting its witnesses.
He added that he had even filed a legislative proposal seeking stiffer penalties for perjury, arguing that those who repeatedly change their testimony should face harsher consequences.
"With all due respect, we were able to verify already that there are no cases pending against the prosecution witnesses," she said.
She also pointed out that even a criminal conviction does not automatically disqualify a witness, unless the judgment is already final and the offense is punishable by more than one year and involves moral turpitude.
"You know, that was a very good answer. I just hope the prosecution isn't being one-sided," he said.
Before he could elaborate on his claim, the exchange drew audible reactions inside the impeachment court, prompting Presiding Officer Francis "Chiz" Escudero to call for order.
"The sergeant-at-arms, by authority of the Senate President, is directed to kindly maintain order in the court," Escudero said.
Meanwhile, in a press conference, Senate Impeachment Court spokesperson lawyer Regie Tongol was asked about the ruckus that occurred when Padilla made the "one-sided" remark.
He explained that the prosecution panel was making a gesture that they were supposed to take a side.
"I think the House prosecution panel was simply making the point that they're the prosecution. It's like they're saying, 'We're the prosecution, so naturally we have a side," Tongol said.
Clearly Padilla is only interested in discrediting witnesses rather than deal with evidence presented. Being a convicted, and pardoned, criminal surely Padilla knows the job of the prosecution is to prove the guilt of the person on trial. They are supposed to be biased!
The defense is using the same tactic as Padilla. During cross examination of NBI Chief Matibag it was insinuated that he was biased because his wife supported the impeachment complaint.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2026/07/21/matibag-rejects-bias-claim-after-vp-duterte-lawyer-says-wife-was-among-impeachment-endorsers |
National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Melvin Matibag has rejected an allegation of bias after his wife was brought up by the defense panel as one of the endorsers of the impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte at the House of Representatives.
During the cross-examination on Matibag on Tuesday, July 21, Duterte's defense counsel Mark Vinluan questioned the witness over a potential conflict of interest after the NBI chief acknowledged that his wife, Laguna 1st district Rep. Maria Rene Ann Matibag, was indeed among the endorsers of House Resolution (HR) No. 989 which sought to impeach the Vice President.
In one of the sequences during the cross, Matibag requested to state something "in order to save time" as Vinluan asked him credibility-testing questions to test the freedom from bias, if any.
Matibag stated: "In order to save time in the question of the Defense counsel, I think he's going to the position if my wife endorses the articles of impeachment, so that we save time and it's on record in matter of Public notice: She is my wife, she's one of the endorsers of the impeachment."
Vinluan then asked him that despite that spousal relationship he admitted, he still decided to appear and testify in the Senate impeachment trial.
"My decision to be a witness is by the virtue of a subpoena and issues of the honorable court and by the invitation of the Committee on Justice of the prosecution," the NBI chief said.
"However, the job of my wife as a legislator, is totally from me being the director of the [NBI]," he added.
Prior to Matibag's acknowledgment, Vinluan showed the document bearing the signature of the lady solon, but Matibag said he was in no authority to confirm the signature even if she was his wife.
The defense counsel questioned that while Matibag could recgnized his agent's signature, he cannot do the same to his wife's.
Matibag responded saying: "It appears to be her signature but I have not confronted with documents so that I can compare it."
"With the NBI, it's different, I testified earlier that it was presented to me, and I asked him if he signed it, and I'm familiar to his signature because he's always making submissions to my office," he said.
Vinluan's line of questioning pertaining to Matibag's wife was continuously objected to by the prosecution panel.
However, presiding officer Senator Francis "Chiz" Escudero overruled it, and said "It tests the freedom from bias if any of the witness regarding his testimony."
Even if he is biased against Duterte what does that have to do with the evidence he submitted? Specifically that Sara's threat to kill Marcos was taken seriously and they have a list of names of possible hitmen Sara may have contracted. But this has been Sara's defense tactic from day one. Disregard the evidence and focus on technicalities.
Finally, Sara Duterte wants the Senate to pay for her defense team's catering. Did she forget this is a trial and not an awards show?
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| https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2268349/sara-duterte-asks-senate-to-foot-bill-for-exclusive-catering-at-trial |
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) asked the Senate to shoulder the costs of catering services for Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense team, support staff, and witnesses during her impeachment trial, according to a July 7 letter signed by Duterte.
“As these arrangements are required solely in connection with these proceedings, the OVP respectfully requests that the Senate shoulder the reasonable costs of food and beverage and catering services for the defense team, support staff, and witnesses,” the letter read.
The letter, addressed to Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, also sought several logistical arrangements for the duration of the trial.
Among these was a request that all food and beverages for the defense team, support staff, and witnesses be served exclusively in their designated holding room.
The OVP likewise asked that all food and beverages be sourced, prepared, and served exclusively by its accredited caterer.
“To address legitimate security concerns and to provide the necessary level of assurance to all concerned personnel and witnesses, all food and beverage shall be sourced, prepared, and served exclusively by the OVP’s accredited caterer,” the letter stated.
As of posting time, it was unclear whether the Senate had approved the requests.
The request comes after Senate Secretary Renato Bantug said on July 10 that Duterte’s camp, through lawyer Zuleika Lopez, the vice president’s chief of staff, had inquired about bringing its own equipment and hiring its own caterer for its holding area during the impeachment trial. Bantug said the request was not unusual, noting that the prosecution team had also brought its own caterer.
In a message to the Inquirer on July 10, the OVP said the requested equipment and catering services were intended for everyone in the holding area and for coverage-related purposes.
Duterte is facing impeachment over allegations of amassing unexplained wealth, bribery, misuse of confidential funds, and making grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The last thing anyone needs to be doing during the trial is eating and drinking. Perhaps bring your own lunch. The Senate has not officially declined this bizarre request but they did say they cannot afford to pay for her teams catering.
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