FACT CHECK: VP Sara’s impeachment case not dismissed, trial starts July 6

Claim: The impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte has been dismissed, and she is cleared of all allegations against her.

Rating: FALSE

Why we fact-checked this: The video bearing the claim was posted on July 5 by YouTube channel “PH NEWS UPDATE,” which currently has more than a million subscribers. The video itself also accumulated more than 33,000 views and 1,900 likes as of writing.

The thumbnail claimed that the Vice President’s case has been dismissed ahead of the scheduled start of the trial today, July 6. It also labeled this latest development as “confirmed” news.

Another video, posted on the morning of July 6, claims that Duterte has already been cleared of the accusations against her.

The facts: Duterte’s ongoing impeachment case has not been dismissed. The videos were posted before the start of the impeachment trial on Monday, July 6, at 2 pm.

For the first three weeks, the trial will be held from Monday to Wednesday, and starting July 28, from Tuesday to Thursday. The prosecution will have 62 trial dates, while the defense will have 30 trial dates.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, is constitutionally obligated to try and decide the case. A judgment of acquittal or conviction requires the concurrence of two-thirds of Senate members.

Duterte’s impeachment trial: Duterte is the first and only public official to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives. 

Her case is based on four grounds: alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery of Department of Education officials, and grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family. (READ: Your A-Z guide to Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial)

If found guilty, Duterte will be removed from office and barred from seeking future government posts, quashing her 2028 presidential hopes.

Follow the latest updates on Duterte’s trial on Rappler’s developing story page. – Lourence Angelo Marcellana/Rappler.com

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