The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte reached its 10th day on July 15, 2026, focusing on an alleged assassination plot [1].
The proceedings represent a critical juncture in the Philippine government, as the trial examines whether the second-highest official in the land attempted to illegally remove the president from power.
During the session in Pasay City, prosecutors advanced charges alleging that Duterte orchestrated a plot to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. [2]. The prosecution said it would present a witness regarding a hitman allegedly hired for the operation [3].
Defense attorneys cross-examined National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) chief Eric Matibag during the session [1]. The defense has contested the sufficiency of the evidence, with Duterte saying that the complaint regarding the assassination plot lacks evidentiary support [2].
Beyond the plot charges, the trial is addressing the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in public funds [4]. The prosecution said that these funds were diverted improperly, while the defense continues to challenge the validity of the financial claims.
This 10th day of the trial [1] underscores the deep political divide within the Senate impeachment court. While prosecutors seek to establish a pattern of criminal conduct, the defense remains focused on the lack of concrete proof connecting the Vice President to the alleged hitman [2], [3].
“The trial examines whether the second-highest official in the land attempted to illegally remove the president from power.”
The intersection of financial misconduct and an alleged assassination plot elevates this trial from a budgetary dispute to a national security matter. If the prosecution successfully links the Vice President to a hired assassin, it could establish a legal basis for removal from office and potential criminal prosecution for treason or conspiracy, fundamentally altering the current administration's stability.
