Vice President Sara Duterte skipped the opening of her historic impeachment trial on Monday, opting to be represented by her lawyers as the Senate formally convened as an impeachment court in proceedings that could reshape the country's political landscape ahead of the 2028 presidential elections. 

Duterte's absence ended days of speculation over whether she would personally appear after the Senate impeachment court directed her to attend the opening proceedings either in person or through counsel under its Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials. Her legal team appeared on her behalf, satisfying the court's directive. 

"I cannot answer that because, one, I don't know if it's a personal decision. Second, if it were advice from counsel then we cannot disclose because, as we all know, attorney-client privilege stands," Poa told reporters when asked whether the decision not to attend was made by Duterte herself or upon the advice of her lawyers.

Instead, Poa said the vice president was at the Office of the Vice President attending a planning meeting for the government's preparations for the expected impact of Super Typhoon Babi.

"I just spoke to her a few minutes ago. She's actually in a planning session with members of the OVP to prepare for Super Typhoon Babi," he said.

The Senate opened impeachment proceedings amid heightened security around the Senate complex, with thousands of police officers deployed to secure the area as rival groups prepared demonstrations outside the chamber. Senate officials also conducted security inspections and caucuses in the days leading up to the trial, which is expected to stretch for months. 

Under the Constitution, conviction requires the votes of at least 16 of the Senate's 24 members. If convicted, Duterte would be removed from office and permanently disqualified from holding public office, effectively ending what political observers consider a strong potential bid for the presidency in 2028.

The impeachment trial also marks the latest chapter in the widening political rift between the Marcos and Duterte families, whose alliance propelled them to victory in the 2022 elections before collapsing into an increasingly bitter feud that has reshaped alliances in Congress and the Senate. 

Marathon impeachment fight

If the Senate impeachment trial stretches for months, Vice President Sara Duterte's legal team says it is prepared.

Defense spokesperson Michael Poa said Monday the camp had been preparing for the possibility of an impeachment trial for more than a year, long before the House of Representatives approved the Articles of Impeachment.

"We've been preparing for more than a year now. Ready naman kami to go through the full length of trial," Poa told reporters before the opening proceedings.

The Senate has initially allotted 92 hearing days for the trial—62 for the prosecution and 30 for the defense—although legal observers expect the proceedings to take longer because of procedural motions, constitutional questions and the volume of evidence expected from both sides.

The articles of impeachment accuse her of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery and other high crimes. 

She first faced impeachment in February 2025 after 215 lawmakers endorsed a fast-tracked complaint that stemmed from three impeachment cases filed two months earlier. 

The proceedings, however, were cut short when the Supreme Court unanimously voided the Articles of Impeachment in July, ruling that the House had violated the Constitution's one-year bar rule by acting on multiple complaints filed within a year. 

The Senate eventually archived the case in August, but the legal battle proved only a reprieve. 

A new impeachment complaint, filed after the constitutional prohibition had lapsed, brought Duterte back before the Senate impeachment court on Monday.

Procedure becomes first battleground

Even before the prosecution could present its first witness, the Duterte camp was already contesting how the impeachment trial should be conducted.

Among the defense's first objections is the prosecution's request to allow both House prosecutors and private lawyers assisting them to separately examine witnesses.

Defense spokesperson Michael Poa argued that the Senate Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials allow only one examining counsel for each side.

"Unang-una sa lahat, ayon sa Senate Rules of Impeachment, isang counsel lang bawat panig ang puwedeng mag-examine," he said.

"Kasi medyo magulo naman kung dalawa ang mag-i-examine sa isang witness."

He added that if only one lawyer is allowed to question witnesses, the role should belong to the House prosecutors rather than private counsel.

Although the issue appears procedural, such rulings can shape the pace and conduct of the trial, including how evidence is presented and how long witnesses remain on the stand.

Poa said the defense would abide by whatever rules the Senate impeachment court ultimately adopts.

"Our position is wherever the presiding officer is, we will go through with the trial regardless," he said.

The Senator-judges later elected Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who previously led the convening of the Senate impeachment court against Duterte, as presiding officer of the impeachment court.

He also declined to say whether the defense would file additional motions as the proceedings unfold, saying legal strategy would depend on the impeachment court's rulings.

"I think it's too early to say what motions we will be filing in open court. We'll have to wait and see how the proceedings go."

The early procedural dispute signals that, even before the presentation of evidence, both camps are already positioning themselves for what is expected to be a lengthy legal battle.