THE Senate impeachment court has served the summons on Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio’s chief of staff so she could testify next week, as prosecutors prepare to continue presenting evidence on allegations that she threatened President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

As this developed, Malacañang rejected the defense’s argument that Ms. Duterte’s threats against Mr. Marcos were merely hypothetical, saying her own statements showed otherwise.

Senate impeachment court spokesman Reginald A. Tongol on Thursday said the Office of the Vice-President’s (OVP) Central Records Unit received the subpoena at 1:10 p.m., requiring Chief of Staff Zuleika T. Lopez to appear before the impeachment court on July 13 and 14.

“Under the strict command of the court, Atty. Lopez is required to appear at the Senate of the Philippines on July 13 and 14, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. to provide material testimony regarding her knowledge of the case sent forward by the House of Representatives,” Mr. Tongol said in a statement.

He said Ms. Lopez’s attendance is mandatory, noting that the subpoena includes the phrase “fail not,” requiring her appearance before the court.

Senate Secretary Renato N. Bantug said the subpoena was signed by presiding officer Senator Francis Joseph “Chiz” G. Escudero on Wednesday evening.

Earlier on Thursday, Ms. Lopez visited the Senate but declined to say whether she would appear before the impeachment court, telling reporters only: “Prepare for Typhoon Inday.”

Mr. Bantug said her visit was “purely administrative” and that no impeachment matters were discussed.

“Nothing about the trial was discussed,” he said. “Of course, the security arrangement was discussed if ever the VP attends in any of the trial dates.”

He added there has been no indication that Ms. Duterte plans to personally attend the hearings when the trial resumes. The Vice-President last visited the Senate on July 7 to meet her lawyers but did not appear before the impeachment court.

The court is expected to continue hearing evidence on the fourth article of impeachment, which accuses Ms. Duterte of making grave threats against Mr. Marcos, First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos and Leyte Rep. and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, among other allegations.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, the defense presented a video of Ms. Lopez claiming her life was threatened while she was detained by the House Good Government Committee in November 2024.

“My life is being threatened,” Ms. Lopez said in the clip.

Defense lawyer Mark C. Vinluan argued that Ms. Duterte’s controversial remarks during a Nov. 23, 2024 online briefing were made in response to questions about an alleged plot, dubbed “Operation Romanov,” to eliminate her and her family.

“While her response was unconventional, it was justified,” Mr. Vinluan said.

Meanwhile, Malacañang dismissed the defense’s argument that Ms. Duterte’s alleged threats against the President were merely hypothetical.

“The statement that she had already instructed someone to kill the President is not hypothetical,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro told a news briefing in Filipino. “We saw it. It was not imagined or fictional.”

Ms. Castro also rejected allegations that the Executive branch influenced the investigation, saying the National Bureau of Investigation, under the Department of Justice, has an independent duty to investigate threats against the President, the First Lady and the Speaker.

She added that the Palace would not comment on the merits of the impeachment proceedings.

“It is not the mandate of the Executive or the Palace to assess the past three days of the impeachment hearings,” she said. “That is the work of the Senate. The President’s only request is that the law and due process be followed.”

Ms. Duterte has denied all allegations against her. — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel and Erika Mae P. Sinaking