VP impeachment trial enters day 28 as defense prepares SEC witness cross-exam

MANILA — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte entered its 28th day with the defense poised to cross-examine a key prosecution witness from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Gerardo del Rosario, director of the SEC's Company Registration and Monitoring Department, provided testimony on the previous day regarding various business entities with alleged connections to the Vice President. His cross-examination by defense counsel is expected to test the foundations of the prosecution's case regarding these commercial links.

The House prosecution panel had presented Del Rosario as a witness to establish a factual record on the VP's business interests. The defense's opportunity to question him represents a critical phase in the impeachment proceedings, as attorneys seek to challenge the relevance and accuracy of SEC records presented against their client.

The trial has now spanned nearly four weeks, with both the prosecution and defense presenting competing narratives about the Vice President's conduct and involvement in various business matters. The case continues to draw significant attention as it unfolds in the House of Representatives.