Philippine Senate begins impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte

The Philippine Senate has opened the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on July 6, 2026, in Manila. The trial involves allegations of an assassination plot and is politically volatile due to the Duterte family's influence. Senator-judges initially split over who should preside, but Senator Francis Escudero was eventually elected to lead the proceedings. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also presided over part of the trial. A University of the Philippines professor has called for a check on evidence suppression during the process.