Sara Duterte impeachment trial suspended until October 5 - Rappler

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HUDDLE. Senator-judges huddle during a break on Day 31 of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on September 29, 2026.

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MANILA, Philippines – The Senate impeachment court suspended proceedings in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte until Monday, October 5,  amid the defense’s appeal for the deferment of the testimony of an Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) witness over confidentiality issues. 

Impeachment court presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Thursday, October 1, granted the request of Duterte’s defense counsel to defer the testimony of AMLC Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura, initially scheduled for October 1, to allow them more time to study the financial records. 

Lead defense counsel Sheila Sison said the defense received summaries submitted by Buenaventura only on Thursday morning and noted the 11-page submissions and their annexes were marked “strictly confidential.” She also said an attached cover letter stated the AMLC was “not waiving the confidentiality” of the records.

The defense would also need to review 23 to 24 boxes of documents to prepare for cross-examination, Sison added.

“Without a review of that, we cannot imagine how we would be able to intelligently respond to the questioning of the prosecution to their intended witness — should it come to that — and raise the proper grounds therefore, without examination of the documents that we need to do to appreciate the so-called summaries here,” she said.

“In addition, of course, to our objection that we may raise on the absolute confidentiality of these records,” Sison added.

The defense’s request drew mixed reactions from senator-judges.

Senator-judge Vicente “Tito” Sotto III expressed “strong reservations” about the postponement, noting that the defense had access to the AMLC records since September 2.

“All this time, I thought that the prosecution and the defense [had] been ready with this since July,” Sotto said.

“I don’t think many would enjoy a postponement only because they were not given proper time. This was since July, and, as I understand, September 2, the defense was given access,” he said.

Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano said he shared Sotto’s view but nevertheless urged the court to grant the defense’s request.

“If I can use the word ‘main event,’ one of the, if not the, main events of this trial, the same as the Corona trial, is actually the questions about financial impropriety or graft and corruption and about the actual finances of the respondent accused,” Cayetano said.

“In a democracy, the result is important, but the process is as important…. I don’t think the defense is asking for a month, a week. They’re asking for this afternoon and tomorrow, so, meaning, on Monday,” he said.

Senator-judge Risa Hontiveros addressed the confidentiality issue, saying the confidentiality requirement under the law is intended to prevent indiscriminate or voluntary disclosure of information and does not necessarily prevent compliance with subpoenas issued by courts, including an impeachment court.

“Ang isang absolute reading ay magiging kabaligtaran dahil hindi na po magagawa ng AMLC ang mismong trabaho niya, kung bakit siya nilikha ng ating batas,” Hontiveros said.

(An absolute reading of the law will oppose the reason and essence of the creation of the AMLC.)

House prosecutor Chel Diokno urged the court to reject the defense’s request, saying the subpoenaed AMLC records had been made available to the defense since September 2.

Diokno also argued that the confidentiality issue had already been addressed when the impeachment court issued subpoenas for Duterte’s bank and financial records in July.

In granting the request, Escudero said the court would furnish senator-judges with copies of relevant provisions, particularly sections 9(c) and 14(d) of Republic Act No. 9160, as amended by Republic Act No. 11521, or the AMLC law, as well as Section 8-A of the same.

Senator-judges may raise questions on the issue during a caucus or open session on October 5.

“I believe this is only the first time that this is being done in excess of the day. So, ex comitate, ex aequo, out of courtesy and equity, the chair grants the time requested by the counsel for respondent for time to prepare for the cross-examination, rather, to prepare for the direct and cross-examination of the AMLC witness on Monday,” Escudero said.

The Senate clerk of court was directed to amend Buenaventura’s subpoena.

The impeachment court was supposed to begin its new two-week, whole-day trial schedule on October 1. But the ruling cut short Thursday’s proceedings and suspended the trial scheduled for Friday, October 2.

The trial will resume on Monday at 10 am, with Buenaventura expected to take the witness stand. – Rappler.com