The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is expected to begin in June unless the Supreme Court issues a ruling that affects the proceedings,
The Senate has already received the Articles of Impeachment, convened as an impeachment court, and adopted a timeline for the next stages of the trial.
“Well, the Senate has already adopted and set the timeline. Unless, of course, there’s a massive or, you know, a very kumbaga change that might happen,” House prosecution panel spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said in an interview.
Based on the Senate’s timetable, Duterte is expected to be summoned to answer the Articles of Impeachment. The prosecution will then be given time to reply before the process moves to pre-trial and the actual trial.
“And so, yeah, probably around June and the trial begins, the actual trial will begin,” he said.
The House official said the Senate’s acceptance of the articles should settle attempts to revisit issues already handled by the House, which he said conducted the impeachment process in compliance with due process requirements.
“They have already accepted the transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment. They have already worn their robes,” Adiong said.
The solon noted that the House Committee on Justice had conducted confirmation hearings and gave Duterte’s camp opportunities to appear, respond, and participate in the proceedings.
While acknowledging that questions remain pending before the Supreme Court, Adiong said he would not preempt the tribunal. Still, he stressed that the impeachment process has already advanced from the House to the Senate.
Asked whether the trial could be paused while awaiting Supreme Court action, the Mindanao lawmaker said such a scenario is possible. However, he said the country is closely watching how the Senate will carry out its constitutional role.
“In the absence of such a decision, it should go through the regular process,” he said, emphasizing that the Senate as an institution must try and decide the case.
He added that any move to delay the proceedings would have to be explained to Filipinos who have followed the case from the House deliberations to the Senate’s convening as an impeachment court.
Adiong said the trial will test whether political institutions can rise above partisanship and allow the constitutional accountability process to work.