The Philippine Senate on Monday commenced the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte in her absence, marking the first impeachment trial against an incumbent vice president in the country's history.

The hearing was held at the Senate complex in the Philippines' capital, Metro Manila, with over 6,000 police officers deployed, according to local police.

Twenty-one out of a total of 24 senators attended the hearing. Twelve senators voted in favor of electing Senator Francis Escudero as the presiding officer of the impeachment trial. Prosecution representatives, including House of Representatives members and their legal counsel, as well as the defense team representing Sara, were present at the hearing and delivered relevant statements.

Two of the three absent senators were arrested on June 1 and July 6, respectively, while the third is wanted by the International Criminal Court and remains at large. Philippine media outlets identified the three as Sara's political allies.

If two-thirds or more of the senators vote in favor of the impeachment, Sara will be convicted, removed from office, and barred from holding public office for life. Local media noted that recent arrests of the three senators have sparked debate over the threshold number of votes required to secure a conviction against Duterte.

During the hearing, Escudero said that a minimum of 16 senatorial votes would still be needed for a guilty verdict, adding that those who disagree may seek judicial relief from the Supreme Court.

On May 11, the House of Representatives of the Philippines secured the required number of votes to impeach Sara Duterte. The Philippine Senate convened as an impeachment court on May 18, and the court held a pre-trial conference for the impeachment case in June.

Sara is the daughter of former President Rodrigo Duterte. She announced her candidacy for the 2028 Philippine presidential election in February this year.