Key facts
- Prosecutors withdrew three of four impeachment charges against Duterte to focus on her wealth and asset declarations.
- The defense called Davao City assessor Jaime Adalin as its first of 24 planned witnesses on November 9.
- A prosecution forensic analyst estimated Duterte had more than 800 million pesos ($12.70 million) in unexplained assets.
- Senator-judges lowered the conviction threshold from 16 to 14 votes in September because four cannot participate.
- Defense spokesperson Michael Poa said it was too early to say whether Duterte would testify.
- Duterte has called the proceedings political harassment and denies wrongdoing.
MANILA, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Lawyers for Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte began her defense on Monday, November 9, 2026, calling their first witness against allegations that she accumulated unexplained wealth in an impeachment trial that could end her hopes of becoming president in 2028.
The defense called Davao City assessor Jaime Adalin, the first of 24 witnesses it plans to call, to testify on tax declarations and assessment records. The defense said the records support its argument that a property linked to Duterte was disclosed in her 2024 statement of assets and liabilities, a claim it called "malicious and completely false." Defense spokesperson Michael Poa said on November 9 it was too early to say whether the vice president would testify.
Prosecutors rested their case last month after withdrawing three of the four impeachment charges to focus on her wealth and business interests and her asset declarations. The trial heard nearly four months of testimony from prosecution witnesses, including tax, banking and anti-money laundering officials. A forensic financial analyst who testified for the prosecution said Duterte could have more than 800 million pesos ($12.70 million) in unexplained assets, including remittances from entities in China and Hong Kong. Prosecutors said the assets linked to Duterte and her family were either missing from her declarations or inconsistent with her net worth.
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on four charges initially, including misusing public funds, accumulating unexplained wealth, bribery and threatening the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, the first lady, and a former House Speaker. In a September ruling, the number of votes prosecutors need for a conviction was lowered from 16 to 14 because four senator-judges cannot participate.