The Senate will act without delay once the House of Representatives formally transmits the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said Tuesday.
The assurance came amid reports that some senators associated with the former minority bloc and identified with the Dutertes may oppose the impeachment trial once the case reaches the Upper Chamber.
Cayetano said the Senate would proceed “forthwith” and would not allow unnecessary delays in handling the impeachment complaint.
“There won’t be delays. You can judge us on our actions, but I don’t know what time we will receive the articles of impeachment,” he said in an interview.
The Senate President said he wants the matter discussed first in a majority caucus so that decisions on the next steps would not be left to a single committee.
He also said he had consulted former Senate president Vicente Sotto III regarding the procedures that must be followed before the Senate can formally convene as an impeachment court.
“We won’t delay. There’s no reason. The country needs us,” Cayetano said.
He added that the impeachment proceedings require the Senate’s full attention because of their significance as a constitutional accountability mechanism.
“The longer this drags out, the more attention we must give to this. But it’s such an important accountability process, so we will give it full attention,” he said.
The House is expected to transmit the articles of impeachment after lawmakers voted to impeach Duterte over allegations that include culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption, and other high crimes.