The Senate impeachment court wrapped up Day 28 of Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial on Tuesday with presiding officer Senator-judge Francis Escudero announcing that Wednesday’s session would be devoted to oral arguments on the conviction-vote threshold, with no witness taking the stand.
Each party will be given 15 minutes to argue, after which senator-judges may ask questions before voting on a motion or appeal-cum-motion for reconsideration filed by Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo.
The threshold debate centers on whether the number of votes required to convict Duterte should remain at 16, a question that has divided the court and now demands a formal ruling.
House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro of Batangas told the Senate impeachment court that Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima will lead the prosecution panel during Wednesday’s oral arguments, while the defense said it has yet to decide who will lead its team.
Private prosecutor Lorna Kapunan sharpened the prosecution’s case against the vice president following Davao City Mayor Sebastian ‘Baste’ Duterte’s statement that he was unaware that his sister holds an interest in GenCorp Industries Inc.. Kapunan called it a ‘confession’ and a failure to exercise ‘due diligence.’ GenCorp Industries has extensive links to Davao City through multiple local government contracts and is central to allegations of unexplained wealth in the trial.
The impeachment court served a subpoena on Baste Duterte, with two members of the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms traveling to Davao City to deliver the order personally. The subpoena directs the Davao City Mayor to appear before the Senate from September 28 to 30 at 10 a.m. and to produce certified true copies of relevant documents.
Separately, the prosecution confirmed during Day 28 that Jaime Tan Cruz, identified as an incorporator of businesses in which Sara Duterte declared holding shares, had previously served as special envoy to China for trade and investments under former President Rodrigo Duterte.