House prosecutors say Duterte’s remarks against impeachment court more troubling than sub judice claims

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
August 14, 2026

Photo courtesy: Philippine News Agency

Prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte said her recent public statements pose a greater concern than the sub judice rule violations she has accused them of committing, according to the House prosecution panel’s legal spokesperson.

Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr., legal spokesperson for the House prosecution team, said none of the statements made by the prosecution compare to what he described as the Vice President’s serious and alarming remarks, which include her allegation that the impeachment proceedings involve a “bending of the law.”

Tolosa said the prosecution has observed a progression in the Vice President’s public criticism. He said she first accused the prosecution panel of fabricating evidence and manufacturing narratives, before shifting to attack the integrity of the impeachment court itself.

“Kung meron tayong unang dapat tignan na naglabag sa sub judice rule na ‘yan, huwag nating kalimutan na saklaw din nito ang bise presidente mismo. Nakikita natin na nagkaroon ng progression sa kanyang atake, simula sa pag-atake laban sa prosekusyon, na inaakusahan kami ng paggawa o pagmamanupaktura ng ebidensya at mga naratibo, pagkatapos ay inatake niya ang integridad ng mismong impeachment court dahil sinasabi niyang binabaluktot ang batas sa paglilitis na ito,” Tolosa said. 

(If we’re looking at who first violated the sub judice rule, let’s not forget that the rule also covers the Vice President herself. We’ve seen a progression in her attacks, starting with an attack against the prosecution, accusing us of fabricating evidence or manufacturing narratives, and after that she attacked the integrity of the impeachment court itself because she says the law is being bent in this proceeding.)

The prosecution panel said Duterte’s statements are concerning because they could give the public a misleading impression of the proceedings and could lead Filipinos to doubt the eventual outcome of the impeachment trial.

Tolosa said it would be better for Duterte to appear before the impeachment court directly and raise her objections and answer the allegations against her there, rather than through public statements.

The House prosecution panel has not indicated whether it will take further action regarding the sub judice allegations it has leveled against Duterte, or in response to her renewed criticism of the impeachment court’s integrity.