The Senate impeachment court will start the trial of the century at 2 p.m. today, Monday, though it remains uncertain whether Vice President Sara Duterte will appear in the proceedings. 

As of early Monday, lawyer Michael Poa, a member of the 16-strong defense team, refused to confirm whether the VP would attend the trial, similar to what she did in the House of Representatives during the initial stage of the impeachment proceedings.

“I don’t want to preempt anything, because, honestly, I don’t want the headlines to focus on [her] attendance,” Poa said in a radio interview. 

He argued that Duterte’s physical presence in the courtroom is not legally required as long as she is represented by her lawyers. 

Nonetheless, Poa maintained that their camp is fully prepared to counter all the accusations against the VP, dismissing the allegations outlined in the articles of impeachment as having “no basis.” 

In the same vein, the Senate impeachment court has yet to receive a word from the defense on whether the VP will appear on the first day of the proceedings. 

“We were monitoring this morning, but we haven’t received any confirmation. I also coordinated with the OSAA (Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms), and they haven’t received any notification either. We were prepared [for] any eventuality,”  Senate President Win Gatchalian told reporters on the sidelines of the flag ceremony early Monday.

Meanwhile, Gatchalian strongly urged his colleagues from the minority bloc, led by his predecessor, Senator Alan Cayetano, to join the trial amid swirling rumors of a boycott in protest of what they claim is political persecution by the administration.

The Senate premises and the surrounding areas are in heightened security in anticipation of massive mobilization staged by the supporters and critics of Duterte.

The House prosecution lodged four articles against the VP, accusing her of graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and high crimes. 

The charges are primarily related to the alleged misuse of her P612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery in the Department of Education during her time as its secretary, and a plot to kill President Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House speaker Martin Romualdez.

Duterte had repeatedly dismissed the allegations of wrongdoing, deriding the impeachment proceedings as a fishing expedition and politically motivated to prevent a political contest with the administration's bet in the 2028 elections.

The VP only needs nine votes from senator-judges to be acquitted of any one of the four charges. Conversely, 16 votes in favor of conviction could remove her from office and permanently bar her from seeking one, potentially derailing her presidential bid. 

The first day of the impeachment trial will focus only on administrative preliminaries, including the introduction of the prosecution and defense teams and their opening statements.

The cross-examination of witnesses from both the prosecution and the defense will follow. 

Gatchalian reiterated that he will be the presiding judge despite suggestions from some of his allies recommending Senator Chiz Escudero, given that he is a lawyer and has past experience in impeachment trials. 

The last impeachment trial was in 2012, during the time of the late Supreme Court justice Renato Corona.

Corona was the only top official ever to be impeached in Philippine history for failing to fully disclose his assets. 

The highest official to stand trial was former president Joseph Estrada, who was impeached in 2000 over massive corruption allegations.

Although his trial was aborted in January 2001, Estrada was still removed from office through the People Power Revolution (EDSA 2) and withdrawal of support from the military.