LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Nov. 9, 2026
MANILA, Philippines —The Senate impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte resumes on Monday, Nov. 9, marking Day 40 of the proceedings, after a nearly monthlong recess. Her defense team is set to present witnesses and evidence to counter allegations of unexplained wealth and undeclared assets, amid calls from the prosecution and the public for Duterte to personally take the witness stand and answer the accusations.
READ: Highlights: Day 39 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Oct. 13, 2026
KEY DEVELOPMENTS:
- Suzette Balucanag-Punay, corporate counsel of GenCorp Industries Inc. and Metro City Chow Foods Corp., was initially scheduled to testify Monday but will likely appear on Wednesday due to a scheduled MRI scan.
- Senate impeachment court spokesperson Reginald Tongol said 22 of the 24 subpoenas requested by the defense have been served.
- Punay is expected to testify on the general information sheets and audited financial statements of the two corporations from 2022 to 2025.
- Chief prosecutor Gerville Luistro urged the Vice President to take the witness stand, saying she is the only person who can directly explain the allegations against her.
- Prosecutors cited the findings of forensic financial analyst Alexander Cabrera, who estimated that Duterte may have at least P817.87 million in unexplained assets, with broader projections reaching more than P1.5 billion.
- The prosecution presented land titles for two properties registered under the name of Duterte’s husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, which were allegedly not reflected in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs)./dp
Davao land assessor: Carpio’s Matina property listed in Duterte’s SALN
‘SINO TALAGANG AMPAW?’
Atty. Michael Poa responded to the prosecution’s remark about the defense witnesses, saying the prosecution is entitled to its opinion and that the evidence should speak for itself, leaving the people to judge. #VPonTrial
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‘GINAGAWA NINYONG KENGKOY ANG INYONG TESTIMONYA’
Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo warned defense witness Engineer Jaime Adalin of possible consequences if he lies under oath or fails to take his testimony seriously.
This came after Adalin dismissed the question about his alleged Chinese consulate-sponsored trip to China in November 2025 as irrelevant and said he does not memorize his trips. #VPonTrial
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Davao City Assessor Engr. Jaime Adalin, the first witness of the defense, said he was appointed by VP Sara Duterte in 2016 when she was mayor of Davao. #VPonTrial | @keithcINQ
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LOOK: Prosecution counsel Benjamin Tolosa presents purported Google Maps Street View images of the property covered by the TCT.
He asks if the property is now called by Davao’s Prime Bistro.
Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin says he is unsure.
Tolosa: If you were to assess this property, you would say it is not a residential property, correct?
Defense objects, saying prosecution has yet to establish what they are showing.
Presiding Officer Francis Escudero asked if the building appears commercial or residential.
Adalin: “Depende kung ano ang gamit. Again, our basis is use after inspection of the building. There are times na commercial ng building, pero ang gamit is residential. So magkakaiba po yan.” #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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‘I THINK THAT’S IRRELEVANT’
Atty. Benjamin Tolosa Jr. questioned defense witness Engineer Jaime Adalin about his alleged participation in an all-expenses-paid trip to China sponsored by the Chinese consulate in November 2025, seeking to test his credibility. Adalin said he could not recall the trip.
He also confirmed that then-Mayor Sara Duterte appointed him Davao City assessor in 2017. #VPonTrial
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LOOK: Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin says he did not check if Vice President Sara Duterte owned other properties in Barangay 74-A, explaining that he only examined documents specified in the subpoena.
He says it is possible that the property covered by TCT ending 0775 was the same one listed in Duterte’s 2024–2025 SALNs, but he can not say for certain without further verification. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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Poa: Too early to discuss calling VP Duterte as witness in impeachment
‘WALANG BASEHAN ‘YUNG SINASABI NG PROSECUTION NA HINDI ITO IDINEKLARA SA SALN?’
Davao City Assessor Engineer Jaime Adalin confirmed that the properties listed in Vice President Sara Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALNs) match those in the tax declarations presented by the defense. He also clarified that Barangay 74-A and Matina Crossing refer to the same location. #VPonTrial
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‘YES, IT IS THE SAME PROPERTY, YOUR HONOR.’
LOOK: Davao City Assessor Jaime Adalin confirms that the Bgy 74-A residential property listed in VP Sara Duterte’s 2024 SALN, with an assessed value of P82,046 and a market value of P2.5 million, is the same property reflected in the tax declaration presented by the defense.
Defense counsel Lindon Bacquel: “So tama po na walang basehan ang sinabi ng prosecution na hindi ito kabilang sa pag-aaring idineklara ni VP sa kanyang SALN?”
Prosecution counsel Benjamin Tolosa: “Objection, calls for an opinion.”
Objection was sustained. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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LOOK: Atty. Lindon Bacquel, counsel for the respondent, presents Davao City assessor Engr. Jaime Adalin as their first witness to testify on the tax declarations and tax maps in the Davao Region. #VPonTrial
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WATCH: Escudero says Sara Duterte’s defense submits 24-witness list
VP Duterte trial: Defense presents Davao City assessor as first witness
DAY 40
LOOK: The Senate impeachment court resumes the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, November 9, with the defense set to begin presenting its case on the remaining Article II on unexplained wealth. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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WATCH: With 30 trial days allotted for the defense, Atty. Michael Poa said it does not intend to delay the impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte. #VPonTrial | @keithcINQ
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WATCH: Defense counsel and spokesperson Atty. Michael Poa said they are ready to present their first exhibits for VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. #VPonTrial | @keithcINQ
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WATCH: Prosecution spokesperson Cong. Zia Alonto Adiong says he believes the defense team may have difficulties in counter-arguing “facts that have already been established” relating to their allegations that VP Sara Duterte amassed unexplained wealth. #VPonTrial | @bellepechayINQ
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WATCH: House lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro maintains that the sole witness who can explain the allegations against her best is the respondent, Vice President Sara Duterte herself. #VPonTrial | @bellepechayINQ
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VP’s defense begins amid calls for her to testify
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