LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Sept. 28, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte may take the witness stand on Monday as the House prosecution panel seeks to establish the alleged unexplained wealth of his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, on the 30th day of her impeachment trial.
- Mayor Duterte is expected to testify after the cross-examination of Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) Electronic Government Procurement Operations Division chief Rendell Sopeña.
- The House prosecution completed its direct examination of Sopeña last week where he testified that 49 food service contracts worth a combined P35 million were awarded by government offices in the Davao Region to Gencorp Industries Inc. during the terms of the Duterte siblings.
- Gencorp, formerly known as Timesquare Bee Foods Corp., has been declared as one of Vice President Duterte’s business interests in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) from 2016 to 2025.
- The contracts prompted the House prosecution to seek Mayor Duterte’s testimony on the city government’s dealings with Gencorp. /dp
VP Sara Duterte, husband own 51 guns – witness

‘4 of 15 Davao City deals with VP-linked firm went through bidding’

Relevance of VP Duterte’s firearms ownership in impeach trial questioned

Here is the list of firearms registered to Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Mans Carpio, as reported by Maj. Jerickson Sangalang before the Senate impeachment court.
Class A weapons refer to fully automatic firearms, reserved primarily for military and law enforcement use. #VPonTrial | @zacariansINQ
Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/wz6Wt0g8kU
Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/XKa1pRLLtR
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
LOOK: Senate impeachment court adjourns until 10 am, Tuesday, September 29.
WITNESSES (Sept 29-Oct 2)
Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte
Atty. Kathy Baldonado, Register of Deeds, Davao City
Atty. Marco Pineda, Deputy Register of Deeds III
Atty. Ronel Beneventura, AMLC Secretariat #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQFollow our live updates here: https://t.co/wz6Wt0g8kU
Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/XKa1pRLLtR
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
‘INGAT NA INGAT KAMI MAG-RAOD RAGE, MAGKA-VIOLATION.’
LOOK: Senator-judge Migz Zubiri, who described himself as a “pro-gun” legislator, says the number of firearms a person owns does not matter as long as they are properly licensed and the owner complies with the law.
He notes licensed firearm owners are careful to avoid violations because their firearms can be revoked for violations.
“Ingat na ingat kami mag-road rage, magka-violation,” Zubiri said.
He also emphasized that owning firearms in the Philippines is a privilege, not a constitutional right, unlike the right to bear arms under the US Constitution.
Zubiri added that the “law that was authored by Sen. Ping Lacson is sufficient” and that proper implementation is key.
“I think the only part of the law that I would like to amend is the safekeeping of the firearms,” Zubiri said.
He says safekeeping requirements stricter, particularly in cases where licensed firearms are accessed by family members and used in crimes such as mass shootings. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/wz6Wt0g8kU
Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/XKa1pRLLtR
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
LOOK: Prosecution presents list of firearms owned by Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Atty. Mans Carpio.PMaj. Joericson Sangalang said a market survey placed the estimated value of Duterte’s firearms at P2,184,550, while those of Carpio were estimated at P5 million.… pic.twitter.com/cYhPWxZq7Y
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
Who is Rep. Bel Zamora in VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial?

LOOK: Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo questioned the relevance of Police Major Joerick Sangalang’s testimony on the firearms owned by Vice President Sara Duterte to the unexplained wealth charge.“May diamante ba o may gold ba ’yong baril na ’yan?” Tulfo asked.He noted that many… pic.twitter.com/7A88umVhX5
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
LOOK: Defense counsel CJ Narvasa objected to the presentation of Police Major Joericson Sangalang as a witness on the firearms owned by Vice President Sara Duterte.Narvasa argues that he is not competent to testify on their value because his role as chief of the Firearms and… pic.twitter.com/pGA2xb0cRd
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
Ex-cop who claimed to deliver money to Duterte a Velasco staffer – PNP

LOOK: Police Major Joericson Sangalang takes the stand as prosecution’s witness for Article II, which alleges unexplained wealth. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/vHzGkGZZLy Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/h2G11AVzI7 pic.twitter.com/eunkxSBoQR
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
WATCH: Duterte has ‘absolute’ right not to testify vs herself – counsel

WATCH: Diokno asks defense to stipulate authenticity of Duterte bank records

Prosecution, defense teams clash anew on Sara Duterte’s bank records

Impeachment court grants Baste Duterte request to appear on Sept. 29, 30

CONFLICT OF INTERESTDuring Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, Senator-Judge Raffy Tulfo and House Lead Prosecutor Gerville Luistro raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest involving Gencorp’s bids for Davao City projects. #VPonTrial Follow our live… pic.twitter.com/MUEwNK5JLy
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
Escudero offers Abante to ‘rest somewhere else’ after dozing at trial

‘BAKA PWEDE MAG-ADJUST KAYO NG INYONG DEFENSE STRATEGY.’LOOK: Senator-judge Ping Lacson tells defense panel to reconsider cross-examination strategy.He says defense appeared to focus on creating an “iota of doubt” through highly technical points, giving the impression that… pic.twitter.com/FBAtyfFMLO
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
PhilGEPS Division chief Rendell Sopeña has been excused from the witness stand. Pol. Maj. Joericson Sangalang will be the next witness.Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte asked to appear before the Senate impeachment court on Sept. 29 and 30 to be given ample time to produce the… pic.twitter.com/K5pOn5w00A
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
NO PUBLIC BIDDING FOR 11 GENCORP CONTRACTS FROM DAVAO CITY LGU –SOPEÑALOOK: PhilGEPS Division Chief Rendell Sopeña said 11 of the 15 GenCorp contracts awarded by the Davao City LGU did not go through public bidding, but were processed through “negotiated, small-value… pic.twitter.com/EA3C6wBDNO
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
LOOK: Rep. Chel Diokno thanked lead defense counsel Sheila Sison following their exchange of arguments on the prosecution’s request for admission of Vice President Sara Duterte’s financial records.“It’s always a pleasure to have this exchange of views with the defense counsels.… pic.twitter.com/v43rw36GXh
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
PhilGEPS Electronic Government Procurement Operations Division chief Rendell Sopeña returns to the witness stand on the 30th day of VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial for cross-examination by the defense team. #VPonTrial | @MAgerINQ Follow our live updates here:… pic.twitter.com/OEJKvs4vmu
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
LOOK: Lead defense counsel Sheila Sison argued that Vice President Sara Duterte’s right against self-incrimination applies to the prosecution’s request for admission of her financial records.On the prosecution’s offer to withdraw the request in exchange for stipulations, Sison… pic.twitter.com/00SFLmYOxh
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
LOOK: Rep. Chel Diokno said the prosecution is willing to withdraw its request for admission of Vice President Sara Duterte’s bank records if the defense agrees to stipulations on three basic matters.The proposed stipulations would establish that: 1. The bank records exist… pic.twitter.com/wt5DmdZZbp
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
LOOK: House prosecutor and Rep. Chel Diokno defended the prosecution’s request for admission of documents related to Vice President Sara Duterte’s financial records, arguing that the request does not shift the burden of proof or violate Duterte’s right against self-incrimination.… pic.twitter.com/OfR3dR01wk
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
LOOK: DAY 30: The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte resumes on Monday, September 28. A quorum has been declared, with 15 senator-judges present. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/vHzGkGZrW0Watch our livestream here:… pic.twitter.com/2aAkFEKnKP
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
WATCH: House lead prosecutor Rep. Gerville Luistro says with five trial days scheduled this week, the prosecution team expects to present more witnesses including Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and former senator Atonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV. #VPonTrial |… pic.twitter.com/ZFwHeXx3I9
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Gen. Alfred Corpus said Davao Mayor Baste Duterte was subpoenaed from Monday until Wednesday as witness for VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, but the mayor did not inform the court whether or not he will arrive today.Corpus also said that the security… pic.twitter.com/EpudIR3Cup
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
LOOK: Protesters calling for the conviction of Vice President Sara Duterte are beginning to gather along J.W. Diokno Boulevard in front of the Senate building. #VPonTrial | @zacariansINQ Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/h2G11AVzI7 pic.twitter.com/aiKuigGx94
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
WATCH: Defense counsel Joaquin Narvasa arrives at the Senate ahead of the 30th day of VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. The defense team previously said their participation in the trial will be made ‘ad cautelam’ or with caution. #VPonTrial | @bellepechayINQ Watch our… pic.twitter.com/nvnOSSZZPT
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) September 28, 2026
WATCH: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Sept. 28, 2026

Baste Duterte may be called as witness on Day 30 of VP impeachment trial

Impeachment court hopes for swift SC ruling on 2/3 threshold computation

The post LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Sept. 28, 2026 appeared first on Inquirer.net.