The Senate said on Thursday it is prepared to convene as an impeachment court on May 18 following the House of Representatives’ transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano gave the assurance in a letter to House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III, saying the Senate would act on the articles swiftly and in accordance with the Constitution and its impeachment rules.
The Senate received the Articles of Impeachment from the House on Wednesday. The Senate President said these would be included in the Senate’s agenda on Monday and referred to the impeachment court, which may convene at 3 pm that same day.
“Pursuant to Rule 1 of the Senate Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trial, the Senate has taken proper order of the impeachment and shall immediately proceed to its consideration, consistent with its mandate under Article XI, Section III of the Constitution,” the Senate leader said in his letter.
He said the Senate Secretariat had been directed to place the Articles of Impeachment in the calendar for ordinary business for referral to the impeachment court, which “shall be convened on 18 May 2026, 3 pm or at the possible soonest time” if no questions are raised on the rules and procedures.
Cayetano said the parties would later be ordered to appear before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court on a date to be determined. A copy of the letter was furnished to the Office of the Vice President.
The Senate President said the likely sequence on Monday would be to first organize Senate committees following the recent change in leadership, then convene the impeachment court.
After reviewing the existing impeachment rules, Cayetano said he saw no need to amend them, adding that members of the majority bloc shared his position.
“Nag-meeting kami kagabi, we are happy with the former rules. Kung ano yung good na rules sa mga dating na-impeach, ay good din sa amin ngayon,” he said.
He also acknowledged, however, that any senator still has the right to propose amendments. He warned that changing the rules could delay the proceedings because amended rules would need to be published.
If the rules are adopted without changes, Cayetano said there would be no reason for the impeachment court not to convene on Monday.
He said he would first take his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court, followed by the 23 senators. Once the court is constituted, it will issue summons to the concerned parties and wait for their responses before proceeding to trial.
“Once you convene and issue the summons, dederecho na ’yun,” Cayetano said. “Susundin mo lang yung number of days. So, walang delay yun kung ano nasa rules, kung ano ang nasa Constitution.”
He said senators may hold a caucus by Monday or Tuesday to determine the trial calendar.
He said the main challenge would be balancing the impeachment proceedings with the Senate’s legislative work. Depending on the urgency of pending legislation, he said the chamber could devote most of its time to the impeachment trial.
Cayetano said he is considering holding trial sessions from Monday to Wednesday or from Monday to Thursday, while reserving Fridays for motions and related matters.
He also said he would not discount the possibility that some senators may try to block the trial, but assured the public that he would act strictly in accordance with the rules.