Prosecution wants VP Sara on witness stand in her impeachment trial

September 8, 2026

By ABOGADO.COM.PH Staff

The prosecution said it plans to summon Vice President Sara Duterte as a witness in her trial after it has presented the evidence on all four articles of impeachment against her.

Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan bared the plan to request a subpoena as she announced that the prosecution would no longer call other witnesses in the confidential fund misuse allegations.

Kapunan said the prosecution has presented sufficient witnesses to show a chessboard-like pattern, pointing to the queen or the top accountable officer.

“That’s why I started with a metaphor of all of these actors in that chessboard point to only one person— the queen,” she said.

“And this is why all of these pawns, castles, and horses, and bishops point to only one person, and that accountable person is the Vice President. And that is why, Your Honor, in lieu of presenting 15 other witnesses, we will be presenting the Vice President instead,” she added.

But since Duterte’s testimony would also be material for the other allegations, she said the request for subpoena would come after it has presented evidence on all the articles of impeachment against her.

She also said the prosecution may present an amicus curiae.

The prosecution has yet to present evidence on allegations of amassing unexplained wealth and of bribing Department of Education officials.

It has completed presenting witnesses on her alleged grave threats and alleged misuse of confidential funds.