Sara Duterte Denies Plotting Assassination During Impeachment Trial

The impeachment trial of Sara Duterte entered its second week in July 2026, with the Philippine Senate serving as the court. The proceedings are currently focused on Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment, which alleges that Duterte made grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

During the first week, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agent John Mark Calilung authenticated digital evidence, including a video where Duterte allegedly threatened to exhume the remains of Ferdinand Marcos. On July 14, NBI Bangsamoro Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc testified that while the agency viewed the threats as serious, investigators could not prove the existence of an actual assassin. Duterte's defense countered by citing a plot called Operation Romanov to provide context for the Vice President's remarks.

On July 14, Duterte declared that the complaint is not supported by evidence and accused the prosecution of fabricating a narrative. Meanwhile, prosecutors Lorna Kapunan and Amando Ligutan managed the witness list, ultimately dropping chief of staff Zuleika Lopez and Captain Belinda Bello as witnesses due to redundancy. The court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on July 15 regarding tax records contained in the BIR Box belonging to Duterte and her husband, Manases Carpio.