Davao Mayor Duterte summoned as witness in VP Sara impeachment trial

Manila — The Senate Impeachment Court has issued subpoenas to multiple witnesses, including Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, as prosecutors prepare to present testimony related to Article II of the impeachment charges against Vice President Sara Duterte.

The subpoenas were issued following Wednesday's session of the impeachment trial, where the presiding officer and Senate judges determined that additional witnesses would be called to support the prosecution's case on the contested article. The move signals that the impeachment proceedings are entering a more expansive phase, with prosecutors seeking to strengthen their evidentiary foundation.

Mayor Duterte, brother of the Vice President, is among several individuals whose appearance has been ordered by the court. The specific nature of testimony expected from the witnesses has not been detailed, though their summoning suggests they possess knowledge relevant to the charges being adjudicated.

The impeachment trial has been proceeding through the Senate, where lawmakers serve as judges in the constitutional proceeding. The inclusion of Article II in the prosecution's witness strategy indicates ongoing development in the case as it moves through its various phases.

The proceedings continue as the Senate works through the impeachment case brought against the Vice President, with further testimony expected in the coming sessions.