LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Nov. 12, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate impeachment court resumes proceedings on Thursday, with the defense set to present Bank of the Philippine Islands Senior Vice President Atty. Paul Roderick Ysmael as its fifth witness in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
- Ysmael is expected to testify on the letter requests made by Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, through their legal counsel, as the defense continues to counter allegations of unexplained wealth.
READ: Highlights: Day 42 of Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Nov. 11, 2026
- Other witnesses scheduled to provide corroborating testimonies are Chadrin Parian and Quezon City Prosecutor Vimar Barcellano.
- On Day 42, defense witness Suzette Balucanag-Punay testified that Duterte received P2.14 million from GenCorp between 2022 and 2025 as a return of capital from an investment in a Jollibee branch in Davao City.
- Punay admitted she could not produce written records establishing the amount or terms of Duterte’s original investment. She also acknowledged that “loose investment” had no technical definition.
- The defense withdrew its planned presentation of 15 bank executives, leaving BPI’s Ysmael as the only bank representative scheduled to testify this week.
‘LONG-TIME FRIEND OF VP SARA’
LOOK: The prosecution presents a photo of defense witness Atty. Anel Martin Antero with Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio. Antero confirmed that the photo was taken following Rodrigo Duterte’s victory in the 2016 presidential election.
Atty. Amando Ligutan: “You have long been a friend of the Vice President?”
Antero: “Long-time friend, yes.”
#VPonTrial
Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/VzEBfjYTXl
Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/3blAz92A9J
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) November 12, 2026
‘PROBLEMA BA ‘YON ‘PAG HINDI MATANDAAN?’
Senator-judge Robin Padilla questioned whether a defense witness’s trips to China were an issue, citing his own visits to the country, including one with former President Rodrigo Duterte. Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon clarified that the issue was not the trips themselves but the witness’s credibility and truthfulness. #VPonTrial
Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/VzEBfjYTXl
Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/3blAz92A9J
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) November 12, 2026
Defense presents Atty. Anel Martin Antero as witness in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday, November 12.
He will testify that he was in Japan with Duterte’s husband, Mans Carpio on May 19, 2023, and explain the circumstances surrounding a P205,007.29 credit card charge at Ginza Inakaya Tokyo. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/VzEBfjYTXl
Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/3blAz92A9J
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) November 12, 2026
DEFENSE DISPENSES WITH BPI WITNESS
Defense counsel Michael Poa says the defense is dispensing with BPI SVP Atty. Paul Roderick Ysmael, saying his testimony was only needed to authenticate a letter that Poa had already admitted to writing in open court. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/VzEBfjYTXl
Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/3blAz92A9J
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) November 12, 2026
The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte will no longer present their witness Atty. Paul Roderick Ysmael, the senior vice president of the Bank of the Philippine Islands. #VPonTrial | @JEMendozaINQ
Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/VzEBfjYTXl
Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/3blAz92A9J
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) November 12, 2026
DAY 43: The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte resumes on Thursday, November 12. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
Follow our live updates here: https://t.co/SoXB49sG7X
Watch our livestream here: https://t.co/d6124EDAKN https://t.co/p5zuWtbdF5
— Inquirer (@inquirerdotnet) November 12, 2026
WATCH: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Nov. 12, 2026

VP Trial Day 43: BPI Senior VP to testify on Duterte-Carpio letters

GenCorp payments raise conflict-of-interest questions for VP, witness

Witness: VP earned P2M from ‘loose investment’

The post LIVE UPDATES: Sara Duterte impeachment trial | Nov. 12, 2026 appeared first on Inquirer.net.