THE Senate Impeachment Court has formally set November 9, 2026 as the start date for Vice President Sara Duterte’s defense to present its evidence on Article II, following the prosecution’s official rest of its case.
Presiding Officer Francis Escudero issued an extended ruling confirming the transition, stating: “The prosecution having rested its case, it is now the turn of the respondent to present their evidence in chief.” The court gave the defense 26 calendar days to prepare and directed strict compliance with procedural notice requirements.
The schedule allocates consecutive hearing days beginning November 9: the first session starts at 10 a.m. with the Senate convening as a legislative body that afternoon; November 10 is a full‑day hearing from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.; November 11 begins at 10 a.m., subject to a possible afternoon session; November 12–13 and 19–20 are also full‑day proceedings; and November 23 runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. November 30 is a holiday. Additional dates in December will be announced in early November as needed.
Before the defense phase begins, the prosecution must file its formal offer of documentary and object evidence by October 23, after which the defense has 10 days to submit comments or objections. Escudero also reminded the defense of the five‑day advance notice rule for witnesses, noting that the pre‑trial order does not yet include its witness list for Article II. The court requires the defense to submit both the list and an estimate of required hearing days to finalize the remaining schedule.
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