The lead House prosecutor says the trial could wrap up before the end of November if the defense needs only 10 full trial days for the lone remaining article
SARA DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL – The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte could be finished before the end of November if her defense team presents its evidence within 10 full trial days, House lead prosecutor and Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro said on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
“Posible po na matapos ito bago ang katapusan ng Nobyembre,” Luistro said, which means it is possible for the trial to end before November is over.
The prosecutor explained that the defense had originally asked for 30 trial days to answer all four Articles of Impeachment under the pretrial order. That changed on October 13, when the House prosecution panel dropped three of the four articles, which covered the alleged misuse of confidential funds, bribery of Department of Education officials and grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Only Article II remains. It accuses the Vice President of failing to fully declare her assets and divest from business interests, and raises questions about alleged unexplained wealth involving her and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, from 2022 to 2025. The same financial evidence is the basis of the prosecution’s offer to share VP Sara Duterte’s tax documents with the BIR.
“We have reason to believe na ito pong 30 trial days na ito ay malaki ang mababawas. Sana kalahati na lang o sampu na lang,” Luistro said, expressing hope that the defense would need only half of the 30 days, or even just 10.
She stressed, however, that the final schedule will still depend on the Senate impeachment court and on the number of witnesses the defense decides to present. If the defense needs more than 10 full days, the proceedings could spill over into December, a possibility Senate President Win Gatchalian also raised when he said the trial was likely to stretch into December.
“But at any rate, we are all hoping and praying na sana naman bago mag-Pasko ay tapos na ang impeachment trial na ito para magkaroon tayo ng closure, and we can all move on,” Luistro added, saying the prosecution hopes the case is over before Christmas.
The trial is currently on hold while the Senate works on the proposed 2027 national budget. The impeachment court is scheduled to resume on November 9 at 10 a.m., when the defense is expected to formally begin presenting its evidence. Hearings have also been set for November 10 to 13, 19, 20 and 23, with some days running from morning until early evening. Presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero said the court will decide on its December calendar depending on how many trial dates the defense requests.
The defense has argued that the withdrawal of three articles should not limit its own presentation. Defense lead counsel Sheila Sison earlier said the Vice President must still be allowed to answer allegations already raised before the court.
“That prerogative to withdraw an accusation is not the power to suppress its rebuttal on the part of the respondent,” Sison said. “And the desire to reach a verdict expeditiously can never justify reaching it unfairly.”
Senator-judges have repeatedly said that the verdict will rest on evidence, not surveys, and that they will need to weigh the complete trial record before voting. Malacañang, for its part, has insisted that President Marcos has no hand in the trial.