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.
Prosecution points to ‘lavish spending’ by VP Duterte’s spouse
Pia Cayetano irked as prosec questions Carpio’s spending for athletes
Prosecution counsel Virgil Ligutan and defense counsel Lindon Bacquel argue over the relevance of asking a witness about Metro Manila’s minimum wage in relation to the P200,000 dinner charged to Atty. Mans Carpio’s credit card. #VPonTrial
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Defense witness Atty. Anel Martin Antero says Atty. Mans Carpio was reimbursed by the 11 people who attended the dinner in Tokyo, Japan, where Carpio’s credit card was used to pay the P200,000 bill. #VPonTrial
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Senator-judge Robin Padilla asks the prosecution if there is an issue with the witnesses’ trips to China, noting that he has also traveled to the country.
Prosecution counsel Rep. Terry Ridon clarifies that the issue is not the trips themselves, but the witnesses’ truthfulness before the impeachment court. #VPonTrial
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Senator-judge Pia Cayetano pushes back against the prosecution’s questioning of Atty. Mans Carpio’s purchase of shoes for his son’s basketball team, arguing that public officials should not be discouraged from supporting their children’s involvement in sports. #VPonTrial
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VP Duterte defense witness says young players deserve free shoes
Impeach court OKs defense request to cancel trial on Friday
Padilla dares VP Duterte trial prosecutors: Investigate my expenses
Duterte impeachment trial to resume after Asean Summit
Defense witness admits being friends with Sara Duterte, Mans Carpio
Duterte impeachment: Witness shows Carpio buying shoes for youth team
Carpio’s pal says 11 people chipped in for P200,000 meal in Tokyo
Defense witness Atty. Anel Martin Antero says he would not lie for Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Atty. Mans Carpio, whom he describes as longtime friends. #VPonTrial
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‘TINGNAN MUNA NATIN YUNG MGA KASAMA NATIN BAGO TAYO KUMAHOL’
Senator-judge Robin Padilla challenged prosecution lawyer Atty. Reynaldo Robles’ position that public officials must live simply, asking whether lawmakers themselves own luxury cars worth P16 million to P22 million. #VPonTrial
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‘I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING A BIT EMOTIONAL’
Senator-judge Pia Cayetano questioned the prosecution’s line of questioning of defense witness Chadrin Parian, raising concerns over students’ privacy and whether those with the means should stop supporting young athletes for fear of public criticism. #VPonTrial
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‘I THINK DESERVE NAMAN PO NILA’
Defense witness Chadrin Parian admitted that Atty. Manases Carpio also bought shoes for parents and guardians of Elite Philippines basketball team members who went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, explaining that not everyone on the team came from a family with financial means. #VPonTrial
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‘PROSECUTION, I’M WARNING YOU’
LOOK: Senator-judge Pia Cayetano begins his interjections in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, calling out prosecution lawyer Reynaldo Robles:
“I will not hide my disdain. I will not. I cannot. I don’t even know where to begin.”
This comes after Robles’ recross examination of defense witness Chadrin Parian. | #VPonTrial
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‘THAT DOES NOT DESERVE A RECROSS’
Atty. Lindon Bacquel moved to strike Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan’s remark that the redirect examination did not warrant recross, calling it an improper manifestation.
This followed Bacquel’s questioning of Antero on whether he would lie for Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Atty. Manases Carpio, which Antero denied. #VPonTrial
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Defense witness Chadrin Parian says Atty. Manases Carpio sponsored the shoes, explaining the P256,882.50 credit card charge at Nike Pavilion in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“Siguro nasiyahan siya sa outcome na champion ang mga bata,” Parian says.
He adds that parents take turns sponsoring shoes for the team because not all members have the means to buy their own. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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‘I DON’T RECALL’
Atty. Amando Ligutan asked defense witness Atty. Anel Martin Antero about a P580,000 payment he allegedly received from Atty. Manases Carpio in July 2020, as reflected in an Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) covered transaction report. Antero said he could not recall receiving the amount. #VPonTrial
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Escudero reminds senator-judges vs threatening, insulting witnesses
LOOK: Defense witness Chadrin Parian presents a photo of Atty. Manases Carpio paying for shoes for child members of the Elite Philippines basketball team in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Parian described Carpio as a co-parent and manager of the team.
“I was near the counter when it happened,” Parian added. “Natuwa po ako, kaya kinuhaan ko po ng litrato.” #VPonTrial
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Defense presents Chadrin Parian as a witness in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Thursday, November 12.
Parian testifies that he and Atty. Mans Carpio have children who are members of the basketball team Elite Philippines. He is also expected to explain the circumstances surrounding a P256,882.50 credit card charge at Nike Pavilion in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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“Kaya po ba ng ating mga kababayan na gagastos ng P200,000 nang isang upuan?”
Dispute erupts between prosecution counsel Virgil Ligutan and defense counsel Lindon Bacquel when Ligutan asks Atty. Anel Martin Antero about the minimum wage in Metro Manila.
Ligutan argues that the question is relevant to determining if P200,000 Tokyo restaurant bill is consistent with the constitutional requirement for public officials and their families to lead a modest life.
Bacquel objects, saying the witness’s testimony is limited to addressing the circumstances surrounding the credit card charges and that neither Antero nor Atty. Mans Carpio is on trial. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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‘WALA PONG CORROBORATIVE DOCUMENTS NA MAKAKAPAGPATUNAY’
Prosecution lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan asked defense witness Atty. Anel Martin Antero for proof that 11 people, including Mans Carpio, attended a dinner at Ginza Inakaya, Tokyo, with a bill over P200,000. Antero said he did not bring a photo from the dinner. #VPonTrial
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Defense witness Atty. Anel Martin Antero says their group was surprised by the more than P200,000 bill for their dinner at Ginza Inakaya in Tokyo, Japan, which included Atty. Mans Carpio.
“Hindi po namin ine-expect na ganoon po kamahal ang babayaran namin,” Antero says.
Prosecution counsel Virgil Ligutan asks Antero if he has proof that 11 people attended the dinner. The witness replies: “Wala po akong dalang photograph.”
Antero adds that several members of the group offered their credit cards for payment, not just Carpio’s. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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‘AN AVID DEFENDER OF THE VICE PRESIDENT?’
Prosecution lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan questioned defense witness Atty. Anel Martin Antero on whether he was an avid defender of Vice President Sara Duterte. Antero confirmed that he is part of her legal team handling the cases filed against her. #VPonTrial
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Sara Duterte impeachment: Defense drops BPI exec as witness
‘WERE YOU NOT AN AVID DEFENDER OF THE VICE PRESIDENT?’
Defense witness Atty. Anel Martin Antero confirms that he is a longtime friend of Vice President Sara Duterte and her husband, Atty. Mans Carpio.
Prosecution counsel Virgil Ligutan asks, “Were you not an avid defender of the vice president?”
Antero: “I can say that I am part of her legal team insofar as the cases that were filed against her.”
Ligutan also presents Antero’s social media posts supposedly showing support for Duterte in several occasions.
On P200,000 dinner bill in Tokyo: “Hindi po namin ine-expect na gaano po kamahal ang babayaran namin.”
Wala po akong dalang photo. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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Defense witness Atty. Anel Martin Antero testifies that he was among 11 people who had dinner at Ginza Inakaya in Tokyo, Japan, with Atty. Mans Carpio.
Antero recalls that the bill exceeded P200,000 and that Carpio’s credit card was used to settle the payment because some members of the group had no cash.
He says the group agreed to reimburse Carpio, with each member contributing their share.
Antero says his personal share was about ¥40,000. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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‘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
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‘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
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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
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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
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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
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DAY 43: The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte resumes on Thursday, November 12. #VPonTrial | @AprBenjaminINQ
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