Tolosa admits Senate, panels talking about changes to trial flow

newsinfo / Nation Nation Tolosa admits Senate, panels talking about changes to trial flow By: Gabriel Pabico Lalu - Reporter / @GabrielLaluINQ INQUIRER.net / 06:13 PM July 24, 2026 Share: Senate of the Philippines. INQUIRER PHOTO / NIÑO JESUS ORBETA MANILA, Philippines — Lawyer Benjamin Tolosa Jr.

, one of the private lawyers acting as counsel for the prosecution team in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, has confirmed that there are discussions about possible changes in how evidence will be presented before the court. In an online press briefing on Friday, Tolosa confirmed that the Senate Impeachment Court has asked prosecution and defense for their opinion on the shift from the original flow, where the prosecution first presents all of its allegations contained in the Articles of Impeachment, to possibly allowing the defense to discuss its evidence immediately after the the prosecution rests its case. If the new proposed schedule is followed, since the prosecution has finished with Article IV or the allegation that Duterte made grave threats, the defense will be allowed to present evidence for the same article — instead of the original plan to let the prosecution start tackling Article I or the issue of confidential fund misuse.

Article continues after this advertisement READ: Sara Duterte’s kill remark vs Marcos is ‘active threat’ – Palace FEATURED STORIES NEWSINFO No jackpot winner in July 23 PCSO Super Lotto, Lotto 6/42 draws NEWSINFO Wind signals raised over parts of N. Luzon due to Kiyapo NEWSINFO Sandiganbayan convicts Napoles, ex-DAR exec over P50-M ‘ghost’ projects “There are ongoing discussions about this, but I hope you can understand. I can’t give more details about it at this point, but let us wait as to what will be the decision of the impeachment court regarding this matter, which we expect to know by next week,” Tolosa told reporters.

“It’s a matter that was brought up by the presiding officer, I think the opinions of both sides were asked also. But again, I hope you understand, I can’t give more details about it at this time,” he added. Tolosa also confirmed that if the new flow is adopted, the original schedule for the prosecution’s presentation of Article I — previously slated on Wednesday, July 29 — will be pushed back.

READ: With or without contract to kill, VP made impeachable offense – lawmaker Article continues after this advertisement “If that will be the decision, this means that the defense will be asked to present its evidence regarding grave threats. But as of now, what we are doing is we’re working under the assumption that we will proceed with the presentation of evidence about the confidential funds issue” he said. “As far as I’m aware, there is still no definitive agreement on that, at the deliberation on this matter is still ongoing.

If I am not mistaken, we have until next week to inform the court about our decision on the matter,” he added. Article continues after this advertisement The Senate Impeachment Court has scheduled 92 trial dates for Duterte’s impeachment, as the prosecution requested 62 days for the presentation of their witness while the defense sought 30 days. However, the prosecution agreed with calls to expedite the discussions, only presenting three witnesses — all National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) personnel, including Director Melvin Matibag — for Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment.

This meant that for the 11 days requested by the prosecution for Article IV, only six days were consumed. The other three days went to administrative matters during the start of the trial, and oral arguments on the prosecution’s request for a subpoena on Duterte’s tax and bank records. Article IV deals with Duterte’s threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

, First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, which she made in an online press briefing last November 23, 2024. The threats came while Duterte criticized the House of Representatives for detaining her chief-of-staff, Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez, who was cited for contempt by a panel probing confidential fund misuse within the Vice President’s offices. During the briefing Duterte was asked by a vlogger to take care as she may be in danger.

The Vice President replied by urging people not to worry as she has talked to a person about killing the Marcos couple and Romualdez if she herself gets killed. The defense panel has maintained that Duterte’s statements were part of free speech, but several government officials and the prosecution team believe it was a grave threat — regardless of whether or not the Vice President executed a contract with an assassin to kill the three. Your subscription could not be saved.

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