Senate Impeachment Court to Rule on Public Statements After Fiery Cross-Examination and Social Media Clash

MANILA — High-stakes legal sparring and sharp exchanges dominated the 15th day of the Senate impeachment trial today, 12 August 2026, as proceedings concluded the examination of Commission on Audit (COA) state auditor Xylene Mae del Campo.

Today's session built directly upon the major highlights established during yesterday's 14th day of proceedings. In that session, Del Campo delivered direct testimony exposing critical COA findings on confidential fund allocations. She confirmed that Office of the Vice President (OVP) liquidation reports charged general public activities—such as tree planting initiatives, wheelchair distributions, and Christmas celebrations—against confidential funds in violation of Joint Circular No. 2015-01. Her testimony further revealed that portions of the ₱125 million 2022 confidential allocation were disbursed prior to the official encashment of cash advances.

Audit receipts from the Department of Education (DepEd) also showed cash disbursements made across multiple distant provinces on the exact same date under a single Special Disbursing Officer (SDO). Presiding Officer Francis Escudero pointed out that it was "physically impossible" for one officer to be in all locations simultaneously without unauthorized delegation, leading private prosecutor Atty. Lorna Kapunan to jest that the officer acted like "Superman." Furthermore, examination of submitted acknowledgment receipts uncovered food-related pseudonyms—such as "Matthew N. Keso", "Jay Kamote", and "Pia Piattos Lim"—as well as names resembling sitting and former senators.

Clashes Over Cross-Examination Rules

Transitioning to cross-examination today, the courtroom quickly turned into a battleground over questioning limits, culminating in a formal warning from Escudero regarding courtroom decorum and public pronouncements.

Tensions spiked between Kapunan and defence counsel Atty. Kristine Ferrer during the cross-examination of Del Campo. When Ferrer demanded simple "yes" or "no" answers from the witness, Kapunan objected to what she described as misleading premises.

"Never mind if you're on cross; there are limits to cross-examination. Misleading questions are not allowed on cross. I don't think I need to lecture you on that," Kapunan remarked.

"They are allowed," Ferrer countered.

Presiding Officer Francis Escudero intervened to diffuse the situation, appealing to both counsels not to let a "seeming generational divide" escalate trial dynamics. Kapunan responded with a quip, stating: "Your Honor, please. I am preventing myself from giving her a spanking, your Honor. That is what I have done in the generational divide."

Under cross-examination, Del Campo stood by COA's findings, affirming that activities funded by OVP and DepEd confidential funds—including claims of "reward payments" without underlying records of arrests—remained insufficient proof of success under audit rules.

Defence Objection and Impending Sub Judice Ruling

Shortly before the session adjourned, lead defence counsel Sheila Sison submitted a formal manifestation regarding an 11:29 AM social media post by prosecution lawyer Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan. The post read: "A principle ALL lawyers and law students know by heart: Misleading questions are NOT allowed even on cross-examination."

Sison decried the online commentary, arguing that defence counsel was referring to leading questions being permissible rather than misleading ones, and asserted that public commentary on ongoing proceedings violated court rules. "I find it troubling that a private prosecutor would do this in the middle of a courtroom hearing... As officers of the court we owe each other respect, politeness or kindness," Sison stated.

Addressing the manifestation, Escudero revealed that the court was already drafting guidelines regarding public statements, noting that one side had been crossing the line repeatedly. He announced that the Senate impeachment court will issue a formal ruling on public pronouncements by trial participants when proceedings reconvene on 17 August 2026.

Prosecution Pushback in Post-Trial Presser

Following the adjournment of proceedings, Atty. Amando Virgil Ligutan and House prosecution spokesperson Rep. Terry Ridon addressed reporters in a post-trial press conference, firmly rejecting the defence's grievances.

Ligutan maintained there was no bad faith or illegality in his social media update, stating that prohibition of misleading questions is a universal legal rule. "No misleading questions is allowed is as true as the sun is rising from the east and setting at the west. 1+1=2. There is nothing illegal about it," Ligutan told reporters. He emphasized that his post contained no specific names, case details, or court references, adding that he saw no reason to delete it. "Did I mention a name, a case? Zero. Nothing. Nada. If they felt alluded to, sa kanila na po iyon," he added.

House prosecution spokesperson Rep. Terry Ridon similarly pushed back against the defence panel's manifestation, issuing a direct rebuke to the opposing counsel during the presser: "Do not gaslight the nation," Ridon stated. Ridon asserted that stating an elementary evidentiary rule does not breach sub judice rules or discuss the merits of the case, emphasizing that the defence should focus on addressing the substance of COA's audit findings rather than complaining about online reminders of courtroom procedure.