The Senate of the Philippines will formally begin impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte next week, after Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced that senators are set to convene as an impeachment court on May 18.
In a letter addressed to House Speaker Faustino Dy III, Cayetano said the Senate had taken “proper order” of the Articles of Impeachment and would proceed in accordance with the Constitution and Senate rules.
“The Secretariat has been directed to include 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 p.m., or at the possible soonest time,” the letter read.
Cayetano said the Senate majority bloc sees no need to amend existing impeachment rules, warning that any changes could delay proceedings since revised rules would still require publication.
“If everyone agrees on the rule, I do not see any reason why hindi kami makapag-convene sa Monday,” he said.
Under the planned procedure, senators will first convene as an impeachment court before Cayetano takes his oath as presiding officer, followed by the oath-taking of the 23 senator-judges. The Senate will then issue summons to the Vice President.
He said the chamber is preparing a draft schedule based strictly on constitutional and procedural timelines, stressing that the process is not discretionary.
“So walang delay ’yun. Kung ano na sa rules, kung ano nasa Constitution ’yun,” he said.
Cayetano added that the length of the trial will depend on the number of witnesses and evidence to be presented by both sides, noting that neither party can be restricted in presenting their case.
“You cannot stop both sides from presenting the number of witnesses na gusto nilang sabihin,” he said.
He also said the Senate will need to balance impeachment proceedings with legislative work, amid other national priorities and pending measures.
Cayetano added that members of the majority bloc are supportive of proceeding with the trial, with no reported opposition among them to convening the impeachment court.
