[Rappler’s Best] Houston, we’ve had a problem here - Rappler

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SONNY TRILLANES. File photo shows civil society group The Silent Majority along with former senator Antonio Trillanes file plunder and graft charges against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Office of the Ombudsman on January 21, 2026.

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And, just like that, the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte left the courtroom for a moment and turned to the angry podium of former senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV. He had been preparing and raring for his testimony only to be dropped by the prosecution at the last minute on Thursday, October 1. 

The mutineer-turned-politician, after all, was the first to blow the whistle on the Dutertes’ alleged bank accounts a decade ago, when very few dared to look or listen. That exposé took on a life of its own.

So it seemed logical that the prosecution in the impeachment trial would call him to testify in their charge that the Vice President had accumulated unexplained wealth. He was listed as a witness and even appeared at the Senate on Tuesday, September 29, when Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte testified.

But, on the same day, impeachment court presiding officer Senator Chiz Escudero made his stand clear.

Lawyer Lulu Reyes, a regular panelist at Rappler’s impeachment coverage, argued that not presenting Trillanes made sense legally, since he had no direct knowledge of the supposed transactions and would be vulnerable to questions about how he got them. Watch it here.

But cut the man some slack. It’s not as if he was pulling things from thin air. And it’s not as if anyone could derail him from his single resolve — rightly or wrongly — to expose and bring down the Dutertes. Thus, on Friday, outside the impeachment court, he made five explosive allegations against the Dutertes.

Indeed, the Vice President’s trial enters its probably most critical week this week as the prosecution presents evidence in the final of the four articles of impeachment lodged against her: that she committed culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayed public trust due to unexplained wealth.

The impeachment court begins its planned daily weekday trials this week and these will last until October 15. After that, the trial will be suspended to give way to the Senate’s legislative tasks, until its resumption on November 18. Check the latest revised calendar here, which is subject to change, of course.

At least it got one thing out of the way, with the Supreme Court dismissing petitions against its decision to adjust the voting threshold for Duterte’s conviction. Verdict may be out by as early as December 16, according to the court spokesperson.

But if you think you know how this trial will end, think again.

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