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As the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte continues, viewers following the proceedings are likely to encounter a steady stream of legal and courtroom terminology, from Latin phrases invoked by lawyers to specific audit terms tied to the confidential funds issue at the heart of the case.
Here's a rundown of the terms you'll keep hearing, explained.
1. Presiding Officer - The Chief Justice or the Senate President who leads and manages the conduct of the impeachment trial. Source: 1987 Philippine Constitution, Art. XI, Sec. 3(6)
2. House Prosecution Panel - The group of House of Representatives members who act as prosecutors, presenting evidence and arguments to prove the impeachment charges. Source: Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Trials, Senate of the Philippines
3. Defense Counsel - The lawyer or legal team representing the impeachable official, tasked with countering the charges and evidence presented by the prosecution. Source: Rules of Procedure in Impeachment Trials, Senate of the Philippines
4. Subpoena duces tecum - A court order requiring a person to appear and bring specific documents or records relevant to the case. Source: Rules of Court, Rule 21, Sec. 1
5. Subpoena ad testificandum - A court order requiring a person to appear and testify as a witness, without necessarily bringing documents. Source: Rules of Court, Rule 21, Sec. 1
6. Ratio decidendi - The core legal reasoning or principle a court relies on to reach its decision, the binding part of a ruling. Source: Black's Law Dictionary
7. Obiter dictum - A remark or observation made by a judge in a decision that is not essential to the ruling and therefore not legally binding. Source: Black's Law Dictionary
8. Void ab initio - A Latin term meaning "void from the beginning", describing an act, contract, or law treated as if it never had legal effect. Source: Black's Law Dictionary
9. Accountable officer - A government employee or official entrusted with public funds or property and legally responsible for their proper use and disposition. Source: Government Auditing Code of the Philippines (P.D. 1445)
10. AMLC (Anti-Money Laundering Council) - The Philippine government body tasked with implementing the Anti-Money Laundering Act, including investigating suspicious financial transactions. Source: Republic Act No. 9160, as amended
11. Arresto mayor - A penalty under the Revised Penal Code involving imprisonment ranging from one month and one day to six months. Source: Revised Penal Code, Art. 27
12. Bank secrecy - A Philippine law that generally protects the confidentiality of bank deposits, with limited legal exceptions such as court orders in specific cases. Source: Republic Act No. 1405 (Bank Secrecy Law)
13. Cross-examination - Questioning of a witness by the opposing party after their initial testimony, used to test, clarify, or challenge their earlier statements. Source: Rules of Court, Rule 132, Sec. 6
14. Culpable violation of the Constitution - A willful and intentional breach of the Constitution, not an honest mistake or error in judgment, and one of the grounds for impeachment. Source: 1987 Philippine Constitution, Art. XI, Sec. 2; UP College of Law Impeachment Primer, 2025
15. Felony - An act or omission punishable under the Revised Penal Code, committed with deceit (dolo) or fault (culpa). Source: Revised Penal Code, Art. 3
16. Leading (type of objection) - An objection raised when a question suggests the desired answer to the witness, typically disallowed during direct examination. Source: Rules of Court, Rule 132, Sec. 10
17. Objection - A formal protest raised by a lawyer against a question, evidence, or procedure, asking the presiding officer to disallow it. Source: Rules of Court, Rule 132
18. Overruled - A ruling by the presiding officer denying an objection, allowing the question or evidence to stand. Source: Rules of Court, Rule 132
19. Redirect examination - Additional questioning of a witness by the party who originally presented them, done after cross-examination to clarify or rebut points raised. Source: Rules of Court, Rule 132, Sec. 7
20. Sub judice / gag order - A restriction on public commentary about a case while it is still under court or tribunal deliberation, meant to protect the integrity of proceedings. Source: Rules of Court; Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability
21. Sui generis - A Latin term meaning "of its own kind" — used to describe impeachment as a unique proceeding, distinct from ordinary criminal or civil trials. Source: Francisco v. House of Representatives, G.R. No. 160261 (2003)
22. Sustained - A ruling by the presiding officer upholding an objection, disallowing the question or evidence in question. Source: Rules of Court, Rule 132
23. Ultimate facts - The essential facts that must be proven to establish a party's cause of action or defense, as opposed to minor evidentiary details. Source: Rules of Court, Rule 8, Sec. 1
24. Perusing the document - To read or examine a document carefully before responding or ruling, often said by a judge, senator, or lawyer before commenting on evidence, signaling a close review rather than a quick glance. Source: Rules of Court, Rule 132 (general evidentiary practice)
25. Prima facie - Latin for "at first glance" or "on its face" — evidence that appears sufficient to establish a fact or case unless disproven.
A "prima facie case" means there's enough basis to proceed; it is not a final finding of guilt. Source: Black's Law Dictionary; Rules of Court, Rule 131
26. Notice of Disallowance (ND) - A formal COA ruling that a government expense or transaction was improper. Only COA's Commission Proper can issue this — a state auditor's observations alone are not final. Source: 2009 Revised Rules of Procedure of the Commission on Audit
27. Audit Observation Memorandum (AOM) - A preliminary document noting issues found during an audit. It is different from a formal finding; it flags something for review, not a conclusion of wrongdoing. Source: COA Circular No. 2009-006
28. Materiality - Whether a piece of evidence or fact is significant enough to affect the outcome of the case.
Senator-judges may assess if certain documents or testimony are "material" to the impeachment articles. Source: Rules of Court, Rule 128, Sec. 4
29. Articles of Impeachment - The formal, written charges against the official being impeached.
Each article represents a specific allegation VP Duterte must answer to during trial. Source: 1987 Philippine Constitution, Art. XI, Sec. 3
30. Burden of proof - The obligation to prove a claim or allegation.
This typically rests on the prosecution (House panel) to prove the allegations against VP Duterte. Source: Rules of Court, Rule 131, Sec. 1
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Date posted: August 6, 2026 12:29 PM