2026 ImpeachmentTracker tracks claims made in the impeachment trial and the evidence cited for them. Status labels describe the state of evidence in the proceeding — never guilt, innocence, or a predicted verdict. This is an independent, solo-developer civic project; corrections are welcome. Read our methodology & disclaimers.

2026 ImpeachmentTracker
All sessions
Published recap

Impeachment Trial - Day 1

Trial proper opened. Senator-judges elected Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero as presiding officer, heard both sides' opening frames, and began the first subpoena and evidence-handling fights.

Last updated:

ShareFacebookX
Transcript status: Machine-cleanedGo to the transcript in SenateHearingTranscripts

Agenda

  • Opening of the impeachment trial and quorum call
  • Election of the impeachment court presiding officer
  • Opening statements from the House prosecution and defense panels
  • Initial subpoena, BIR-box, bank-record, and witness-scheduling disputes

Session record

Claims introduced or updated

  • No new standing claim cards were added; Day 1 updated existing Article I, II, III, IV, first-impeachment, and dismissal cards.
  • Article I was framed around alleged P612.5 million OVP/DepEd confidential-fund misuse; the defense pointed to COA finality, PSA certification, and DBM/OP approval-process arguments.
  • Article II was framed around alleged unexplained wealth and bank/AMLC records, with the defense objecting to the breadth and relevance of requested financial records.
  • Article IV was previewed as the first evidentiary track, centered on the November 2024 recorded threat allegation.

Evidence & exhibits

  • The prosecution sought subpoenas for bank, AMLC, BIR, and witness material, including NBI officials expected to testify on Article IV.
  • The BIR tax-record box was ordered returned closed and sealed, without prejudice to later court action on a proper subpoena motion.
  • Documentary evidence was discussed as subject to identification, formal offer, and later admissibility rulings rather than immediate public acceptance.

Court rulings

  • Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero was elected presiding officer of the impeachment court.
  • The presiding officer stated that 16 affirmative votes, two-thirds of all 24 senators, are required for conviction.
  • Subpoenas were ordered for NBI-BARMM Regional Director Jeremy Lotoc and NBI Cyber Investigation and Assessment Center Senior Agent John Mark Calilung.

Open questions

  • How will the impeachment court rule on the scope of bank, AMLC, and tax-record subpoenas?
  • Which witness affidavits and exhibit packets will senator-judges receive before direct examination?
  • Will pending Supreme Court petitions or objections to the presiding officer affect the trial schedule?

Claims updated in this session

Sources