Sara Duterte impeachment trial resumes in Philippines

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte continues in the Philippines, with the court set to resume proceedings on August 24, 2026. A key focus of the upcoming session is the testimony of Gina Acosta, a former special disbursing officer for the Office of the Vice President (OVP). Acosta, who has been declared a hostile witness, is expected to face direct examination regarding the alleged handling of confidential funds. During previous testimony, Acosta claimed that Duterte instructed her to deliver P125 million in cash to a non-OVP employee.

Simultaneously, debate has emerged regarding the voting threshold required for a conviction. While the 1987 Constitution requires the concurrence of two-thirds of all Senate members—effectively 16 votes—questions have been raised due to the absence of certain senator-judges. Presiding officer Senator Francis Escudero has maintained that at least 16 votes are necessary for conviction, despite discussions regarding the impact of absent members on the proceedings.