KABATAAN Party-list Rep. Renee Co of the Makabayan bloc over the weekend urged the public to closely monitor how the Senate will handle the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, particularly whether senators will follow the Constitution’s mandate to immediately proceed with the trial.
Now that the articles of impeachment have been transmitted, Co said attention should now shift to the Senate’s actions after Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced that the chamber would convene as an impeachment court on Monday.
“Ang dapat nating tutukan sa mga magdadaang mga araw” is how the Senate will process the articles of impeachment, she said at the Saturday News Forum at Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City.
She explained that under impeachment procedures, both the prosecution and the respondent would first be given time to exchange pleadings before pre-trial and eventually the trial proper begins.
“Procedurally, mayroon mga ilang araw na ibibigay natin sa prosecution at respondents para magpalitan ng answer and reply. That will take 15 days, after which may pre-trial then saka lang sasalang sa trial proper,” Co said.
“So several days ‘yun before maaasahan natin yung araw-araw na trial hearings,” she added.
However, Co stressed that the immediate concern is whether the Senate will comply with the constitutional requirement to proceed “forthwith” with the impeachment process.
“Pag sinabing forthwith, it means immediately. Hindi dapat may delay at ipahintay ng ilang araw or even ilang buwan,” she said.
She recalled that during the 19th Congress, the impeachment proceedings faced delays as long as five months before formally moving forward, warning against a repeat of the same situation.
“And therefore, again, we invoke the phrase: ‘justice delayed is justice denied’,” Co said.
The Makabayan lawmaker also noted that the recent change in Senate leadership could become a contentious issue in the impeachment process, considering that most members of the new majority have since aligned themselves with the vice president and publicly dismissed the allegations she faces.
“Maaasahan natin na may ganyan lalo na nagbago ang liderato ng Senado at ito ang isa sa makikita nating contentious issues na pagdedebatehan nila on the floor,” she said.
Despite this, Co said the impeachment process should be respected from beginning to end, with each constitutional step carried out properly and without distorting existing laws and rules.
“Ang sa atin naman, nagsimula na tayo ng proseso, galangin hanggang dulo. At mangyari ‘yung bawat step of the process in a way na hindi binabali at binabaliktad ang batas at ‘yung regulasyon,” she said.
Co also emphasized the importance of public participation and scrutiny during the Senate trial, saying active citizen engagement could help ensure political neutrality among senator-judges.
“Ang isang paraan nalang din para ma-ensure na ang mga senador natin ay totoong ie-exhibit ang political neutrality ay kung active participants din ang mamamayan sa proseso,” she said.
“So ipaalam ng mamamayan anong saloobin at pagtingin nila doon sa ilang manipestasyon, tanong, o magiging sagot ng mga members ng ating impeachment court,” she added.
Considering the serious allegations Duterte faces—from improperly spent public funds to her unexplained wealth—Co stressed that the public has a direct stake in the impeachment proceedings.
“May direct benefit na maaasahan tayo dahil may pinaguusapan tayong pera na according to COA, mali ang paggasta at dapat ibalik,” she said.
“So kung susundin natin ang kabuuan proseso at makita natin ang findings sa dulo nito na oo mali yung paggasta, ganyan, kailangan may opisyal na matanggal sa pwesto bilang pananagutan, magfofollow through ‘yan until maibalik ‘yan at magamit ng taongbayan,” she added.
Co said accountability in the impeachment case could also set a broader precedent against corruption and improve how public funds are spent.
“At yung ehemplong na ‘yun na gagamit natin sa iba’t ibang nakikita natin paraan ng korapsyon, dudulo yan sa dapat mas maayos na paggasta ng pera at mas magandang paglaan ng pondo sa benepisyong dapat pinopondohan—edukasyon, kalusugan at iba pa,” she said.
“So may direct benefit, may direct stake ang mamamayan dito sa impeachment na dapat suportahan natin ang maayos na paggulong ng proseso na ito,” she added.
The House impeached Duterte on May 11 after 257 lawmakers voted to transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, while 25 voted against and nine abstained. The charges include allegations of misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth concerning billions in bank transactions, bribery, and grave threats.
For Duterte to be held accountable on the impeachment charges against her, at least two-thirds of the Senate impeachment court, or 16 of its 24 members, must vote in favor of conviction.
