The impeachment trial of vice-president Sara Duterte has begun in Manila, with her defence team arguing that the proceedings must strictly follow the constitution and respect the will of the millions of voters who elected her. Lead counsel Sheila Sison, stating that the case carries significant constitutional and historical importance, has challenged the legality of aspects of the impeachment process undertaken by the House of Representatives. She referred to previous supreme court rulings which criticised earlier impeachment efforts and alleged that the House was behaving improperly by conducting what she described as a ‘mini-trial’. The defence also disputed allegations relating to the vice president’s use of confidential funds, arguing that official audit findings did not establish misuse. Throughout her opening statement, Sison said that the vice president is entitled to due process and the full protection of her constitutional rights as the impeachment trial proceeds before the Senate.