The prosecution also wants Grande to testify that the confidential funds were liquidated in the names of the non-existent, the long dead, and children. Justin Gular, defense counsel, insists Grande is incompetent to testify on the matter. 

PSA tells impeachment court: No Mary Grace Piattos in our records

[EDITORIAL] From powerful to paranoid — ang laos na victimhood playbook ni Sara Duterte
Nakaiinip talaga ang proseso ng bail. Pero tanging si Sara lang ang nakapag-trantrum live on cam.

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/voices/editorials/powerful-paranoid-sara-duterte-victimhood-playbook-filipino-version/

Defense counsel Justine Gular starts cross-examination. He asked Grande if the PSA obtained the consent of the persons included in the request letter of the House panel in processing their personal data.

Grande said no but explained the PSA did not violate the Data Privacy Act since the processing was done for “legitimate purpose”.

Gular says the PSA doesn’t have a repository of aliases and pseudonyms used in confidential operations. However, Grande clarified the civil registry has a list of judicially-approved aliases, and pseudonyms.

Clarity, not just coverage
The Rappler YouTube channel brings you closer to the Sara Duterte impeachment trial with daily recaps, expert insights, and long-form journalism that cuts through the noise

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/about/sara-duterte-impeachment-youtube-playlist-clarity/

For the first time, the defense counsel of VP Sara Duterte confirms the names indicated in the acknowledgement receipts used to liquidate the confidential funds of the DepEd and OVP were aliases.

Gular: Given that it became a material matter, we have to couch this answer that is classified matter — but these are in fact, aliases, your Honor, for the consideration of this court.

Prosecution drops former DepEd SDO Edward Fajarda from its witness list amid his medical condition.

JUST IN: Prosecution moves up presentation of unexplained wealth case vs Sara Duterte @here

Prosecution changes order of presentation, says to proceed with its case on VP Sara Duterte's unexplained wealth after wrapping up its confidential fund misuse case.

PSA: Some OVP, DepEd confidential fund recipients had names of kids, dead people
The Philippine Statistics Authority says 1,685 names in the confidential fund receipts have no birth, marriage, or death records

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/confidential-fund-receipts-office-vice-president-department-education-names-kids-dead-people/

Prosecution moves up presentation of unexplained wealth case vs Sara Duterte
The prosecution was originally scheduled to present its bribery case against the Vice President next, after it wraps up the impeachment article on her alleged confidential fund misuse

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/prosecution-moves-up-presentation-unexplained-wealth-case-sara-duterte-impeachment/

Sara Duterte trial: Confi fund admission may violate anti-alias law
The anti-alias law as amended states that persons wanting to use an alias must obtain judicial authority, and must still affix their real name in documents

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/sara-duterte-trial-confidential-fund-admission-violate-anti-alias-law/

WATCH LIVE: The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte continues on Tuesday, September 8. Rappler's special coverage brings updates, analyses, and commentary from Rappler reporters, hosted by Rappler columnist John Nery.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSjMAQsDuvo

Day 23!

What happened so far:
- Defense opposes prosecution's desire to call VP Sara to witness stand
- No ruling from Escudero yet until prosecution makes a formal motion, but floats the possibility of oral arguments
- Prosecution files 104-page request for admission of evidence, related to financial docs of VP Sara Duterte; defense given 15 days to comment
- No trial for tomorrow, it will be used for marking of exhibits instead
- Defense wanted more time to prepare before prosecution presents article 2, but due to limited time, Escudero still asks prosecution to proceed with unexplained wealth case next week

Prosecution wants to call Sara Duterte to witness stand
'All of these pawns, and castles, and horses, and bishops point to only one person, and that accountable person is the Vice President,' prosecutor Kapunan says at Duterte's impeachment trial

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/prosecution-wants-call-vice-president-sara-duterte-witness-stand-impeachment-trial/

Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo asks the impeachment court whether or not it will stick with its conviction threshold currently at 16 votes.
Tulfo points out that four senators are currently absent: Senator Bato dela Rosa is in hiding, senators Rodante Marcoleta and Jinggoy Estrada are in jail, and Senator Loren Legarda is on medical leave.
"If we insist the voting basis is fixed at 24 regardless of evidence presented... the absence of those senators whether we like it or not will result in acquittal by default. The question is not whether we should make conviction easier. What we should ask ourselves this time... should the constitutional design of making impeachment difficult override the equally important constitutional demand for accountability?" Tulfo says.

JUST IN: The Senate impeachment court will seek the opinion of the amici curiae or the “friends of court” in resolving a motion questioning the 16-vote threshold for the impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte.

Impeachment court presiding officer Chiz Escudero set the presentation of opinion on September 16 while the oral arguments for the matter was slated on September 23.

SPECIAL COVERAGE: Impeachment trial of Sara Duterte
Rappler brings live updates, analysis, and commentary from reporters and experts as the historic impeachment trial unfolds

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/video-special-coverage-panel-discussion-impeachment-trial-sara-duterte/

Impeachment court asked to revisit voting threshold
Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo Tulfo says it should now be clarified as the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte moves closer to its end

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/impeachment-court-asked-revisit-voting-threshold/

LIVE UPDATES: Impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte
Bookmark this page for Rappler's comprehensive coverage of Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial at the Senate

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/vice-president-sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-updates-videos/

Who are the prosecution’s first witnesses for unexplained wealth case? @here

Prosecutor Terry Ridon says the prosecution team has requested the issuance of subpoena to the following individuals in connection with the presentation of the unexplained wealth case vs VP Sara Duterte.

1. Former Sandiganbayan presiding justice Amparo Cabotaje Tang
2. Office of the Ombudsman custodian Karen Batu
3. SEC Director Gerardo del Rosario

Sara Duterte trial barely registers in BARMM campaigns as election nears
Sara Duterte remains popular in the Muslim-majority region, as she does in many parts of Mindanao, yet her ongoing impeachment trial has barely figured in the campaign for seats in the Bangsamoro parliament

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/elections/sara-duterte-impeachment-barely-registers-campaigns-barmm-nears/

Ex-Sandiganbayan justice among first witnesses in Sara Duterte unexplained wealth case
The prosecution accuses Vice President Sara Duterte of betrayal of public trust and culpable violation of the Constitution over her unexplained wealth

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/list-prosecution-first-witnesses-unexplained-wealth-case-sara-duterte-impeachment-trial/

FACT CHECK: Cayetano didn’t say VP Sara should face impeachment court; quote card is fake
No interviews or news reports show Senator Alan Peter Cayetano making the alleged statement. In a Facebook post, he debunked the quote card and called it ‘fake news.’

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/alan-cayetano-fake-quote-sara-duterte-face-impeachment-court/

JUST IN: Three retired Supreme Court (SC) justices will appear before the Senate impeachment court on September 16 to give their views on the 16-vote threshold for convicting Vice President Sara Duterte, impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol announced.

The three are:

1. Retired Chief Justice Artemio V. Panganiban;
2. Retired Chief Justice Reynato S. Puno; and
3. Retired Associate Justice Adolf S. Azcuna.

Retired Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide Jr., who served as presiding officer during the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada, also committed to participate but will submit a legal memorandum instead of appearing in person. | via @sundy locus

4 retired SC justices listed as ‘amici curiae’ for Duterte trial
The Senate impeachment court says four retired SC justices will serve as 'amici curiae' and share views on the voting threshold for Vice President Sara Duterte's trial

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/retired-justices-listed-amici-curiae-sara-duterte-trial/

[Newsstand] ‘I don’t feel safe’ is Sara Duterte’s presidential campaign in a nutshell
It may have come across as simultaneously scripted and badly acted, but the Vice President’s melodramatic message has potent electoral appeal

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/voices/thought-leaders/newsstand-sara-duterte-feeling-not-safe-presidential-campaign-messaging/

‘Amici curiae’: Where do invited ex-justices stand on conviction threshold debate?
Their past statements offer a glimpse into how they will guide the impeachment court

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/philippines/retired-supreme-court-justices-conviction-threshold-amici-curiae-sara-duterte-trial/

FACT CHECK: No official police mugshot of VP Sara; photos are AI-generated
No official police mugshot of Duterte was taken; multiple outlets confirm she submitted her own photos to the court

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/fact-check/ai-generated-mugshot-sara-duterte/

The week in photos: September 5-11, 2026
A recap of news, sports, lifestyle, entertainment, and human interest images from the Philippines and around the globe

Read the full article here:
https://www.rappler.com/world/the-week-in-photos-september-5-11-2026/