Senate President Vicente Sotto III has convened a caucus of senators to prepare for the legislative agenda ahead of the resumption of sessions on Monday, including possible arrangements should the House transmit the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Sotto said the closed-door meeting is part of standard Senate procedure at the start of each session break, but noted that the stakes are higher this time given the possibility that impeachment documents may soon be sent to the upper chamber.
He said senators will discuss both the priorities for the remainder of the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress and the contingency plans needed if the impeachment complaint formally reaches the Senate.
A key point on the agenda, he added, is the timeline for possible proceedings, especially with Congress set to adjourn on June 5 before resuming in late July for the President’s State of the Nation Address.
Sotto explained that while the Senate as a legislative body will be on recess after June 5, it can still convene as an impeachment court if needed, since impeachment proceedings follow a separate constitutional process.
However, he stressed that all preparations remain hypothetical at this stage, as the Senate has yet to receive any official transmittal from the House.
He said it is important for senators to be ready, noting that public attention on the possible impeachment trial is significant and expectations are high for the institution to act properly once the process begins.
Sotto also reminded his colleagues to maintain impartiality and avoid external pressure if and when they are called to serve as senator-judges, underscoring the importance of fairness in any potential trial proceedings.