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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Duterte's camp files pre-trial brief in Senate impeachment proceedings

Duterte's camp files pre-trial brief in Senate impeachment proceedings

Defense team withholds details, cites Senate impeachment rules

Published Jun 15, 2026 08:15 pm
Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team confirmed the filing of the respondent's Pre-Trial Brief before the Senate impeachment court as proceedings move closer to the trial in July. (Manila Bulletin/file)
Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team confirmed the filing of the respondent's Pre-Trial Brief before the Senate impeachment court as proceedings move closer to the trial in July. (Manila Bulletin/file)
Vice President Sara Duterte's defense team confirmed on Monday, June 15, that it has officially filed the respondent's Pre-Trial Brief in connection with the ongoing impeachment proceedings before the Senate.
In an official statement, the defense team said the document was personally submitted at approximately 5:50 p.m.
"The Defense Team confirms that it personally filed the respondent's Pre-Trial Brief at around 5:50 p.m. today," said Spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa.
However, the legal team declined to provide details regarding the contents of the filing, citing respect for the ongoing proceedings and compliance with the rules governing impeachment cases.
"We will refrain from discussing the substance of the filing at this time, out of respect for the ongoing proceedings and in accordance with Rule XVIII of the Senate Rules on Impeachment," the defense team added.
Next step in impeachment process
The filing of the Pre-Trial Brief marks another procedural step in the impeachment process involving Duterte, whose case is currently being handled under the Senate's impeachment rules.
Under impeachment procedures, pre-trial briefs typically outline the parties' positions, proposed stipulations of fact, issues for resolution, and other matters that may help streamline proceedings before the impeachment court.
No further details were disclosed regarding the contents of the brief or the defense team's legal strategy.
Duterte leaves trial preparations to legal team
Earlier, Duterte said she had entrusted all preparations for the upcoming Senate impeachment trial to her legal team and would follow whatever strategy her lawyers deem appropriate.
Speaking in General Santos City on June 10, Duterte said she had deliberately stepped back from managing the details of her defense despite being a lawyer herself.
“I have left the preparation and arrangements for the impeachment trial to the lawyers, and I have also told them that I will simply follow the decisions of the lawyers,” Duterte said in a mix of English and Filipino. 
The Vice President explained that while she has her own legal opinions and ideas on how the case could be handled, she recognizes that her current role is that of a client rather than a member of the defense team.
Duterte also said she instructed her lawyers to keep the legal team small to facilitate communication and decision-making as they prepare for the proceedings.
She emphasized that she would defer to whatever legal strategy her lawyers consider the most effective for her defense.
The Senate impeachment court has scheduled the pre-trial conference for June 18, marking another step toward the formal trial proceedings.
On June 1, Duterte, through her legal counsel, formally submitted her Answer before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court, challenging the constitutionality and validity of the case filed against her.
Her defense team raised what it described as significant constitutional, procedural, and substantive issues regarding both the Articles of Impeachment and the proceedings conducted by the House of Representatives and its Committee on Justice.
The defense argued that these issues should be resolved within the Senate impeachment court rather than through public debate.
“We trust that the Senate will discharge its constitutional duty with fairness, independence, and fidelity to the rule of law,” the defense team said.
Duterte is seeking the dismissal of the impeachment complaint. In an executive summary attached to her Answer, her camp argued that the Articles of Impeachment were “constitutionally infirm, procedurally defective, and substantively deficient.”
The Senate impeachment proceedings against Duterte, scheduled to begin on July 6, continue to draw public attention as both sides prepare for the next stages of the case.

Related Tags

Sara Duterte VP Sara Duterte impeachment Senate impeachment proceedings Pre-Trial Brief Senate impeachment court
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