Sara Duterte told to face impeachment court on July 6 in person or via counsel

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court has ordered Vice President Sara Duterte to appear before it on Monday, July 6, when her trial opens at 2 p.m. whether in person or through her lawyers.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, the court's presiding officer, signed the one-page notice on Thursday, July 2. The law firm representing Duterte, Fortun Narvasa & Salazar, received it at 7:50 p.m. that evening.

"You are hereby notified that trial will commence on the 6th day of July at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and are further directed to appear on said date, in person or through counsel, before the Impeachment Court at the Session Hall of the Senate of the Philippines, Pasay City," the notice read.

The House prosecution panel also received a copy of the notice.

The court closed out its remaining pre-trial business last week and has declared itself prepared for the trial opening on Monday.

Five days of pre-trial conferences ended June 25, after both camps completed marking thousands of documents tied to the confidential funds and unexplained wealth charges.

Gatchalian followed with a pre-trial order on June 29 laying out 92 trial days: 62 for the House prosecutors and 30 for the defense. 

Hearings run Mondays to Wednesdays at 2 p.m. through July 28, then move to 3 p.m. after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address on July 27.

Duterte — the first Philippine official the House has impeached twice — is facing four articles of impeachment: misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery of Department of Education officials, and grave threats against Marcos and his family. 

Sixteen of the 24 senator-judges must vote to convict on any single article. 

One guilty verdict removes her from the vice presidency and shuts the door on any future public office, including her widely expected 2028 presidential run. 

Duterte's counsel, lawyer Michael Poa, earlier declined to comment on whether Duterte will show up to the trial's opening day.