House impeachment prosecutor Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua is upbeat over the imminent start of Vice President Sara Duterte's Senate impeachment trial on Monday, July 6.

It's hard to blame Chua because compared to other solon-prosecutors, he was among the handful who have waited two years for such trial to commence.

“The long wait is over. Sa Lunes ay inaasahan po nating magsisimula na ang trial na matagal nang inaantay ng ating mga kababayan,” Chua said during the Saturday News Forum on July 4 at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.

(On Monday, this much-awaited trial by our countrymen is finally expected to begin.)

The trial is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. on July 6 before the senators sitting as an impeachment court. They will hear the articles of impeachment against the twice-impeached Duterte that was submitted by the House of Representatives this year.

The House also submitted articles of impeachment against the Vice President last year during the tail end of the 19th Congress when she was impeached for the first time. Back then, Chua was made part of the original House prosecution panel tasked to convict the lady official from Davao City. 

However, the Senate never carried out an actual trial against Duterte in 2025.

Suffice it to say, a lot has changed since then.

For one thing, Chua said that Filipinos have become more aware of the evidence against the Vice President this year.

“Malaking bagay po na namulat ang tao nung tayo po ay nag-conduct ng committee hearing sa Committee on Justice kung saan nakita po ng kababayan natin ang mga ebidensya,” Chua said.

(It was a big deal that people became aware when we conducted the committee hearing in the Committee on Justice, where our fellow citizens saw the evidence.)

The Manila lawmaker said many Filipinos now want the impeachment case to move forward and finally be resolved through a full trial.

“Marami po ang nagtatanong at panahon na siguro. Isa sa mga gusto ng mga tao ay matuldukan na itong isyu ng impeachment, masimulan ang paglilitis at matapos na ang paglilitis at makita ng mga kababayan natin ang mga ebidensya,” he said.

(Many are asking, and perhaps it is time. One of the things people want is to put an end to this impeachment issue, to start the trial, finish the trial, and let our fellow citizens see the evidence.)

Chua also cited a survey showing that 82 percent of respondents support the impeachment trial, but stressed that this should not be interpreted to mean they have already concluded that Duterte is guilty.

“Hindi naman po ibig sabihin na itong 82 percent ay naniniwala sila na guilty na ang ating Vice President. Bagkus, interesado sila na makita ang ebidensya at magkaroon na ng tuldok itong impeachment trial,” he said.

(It does not mean that this 82 percent already believe our Vice President is guilty. Rather, they are interested in seeing the evidence and in bringing closure to this impeachment trial.)

Duterte was impeached again by the House of Representatives in May 2026. She is facing trial over allegations that include the misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery involving Department of Education (DepEd)personnel, and death threats against the country’s top officials.