The impeachment trial took an unexpected turn on Day 26, when the Senate heard four retired Supreme Court justices on a separate but potentially crucial question: whether the two-thirds vote required to convict Duterte should always mean 16 votes in the 24-member Senate.

Dressed in black suit and white polo shirt, Duterte appeared attentive as Trial Chamber III tackled procedural and administrative issues ahead of his Nov. 30 trial on crimes against humanity.

On Sept. 14, residents of the Bangsamoro in the southern Philippines will elect regional parliamentary representatives. In this Q&A, Crisis Group expert Georgi Engelbrecht explains the importance of this step in the peace process between the national government and ex-rebels in the region.