THE Senate officially transformed itself into an Impeachment Court on Monday to try Vice President Sara Duterte, following the formal transmittal of Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives.
Clad in maroon judicial robes, senators took their oath as judges, marking a historic step in the country’s political landscape. The Vice President stands accused of culpable violation of the 1987 Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes — allegations that led the House to vote 257‑25 in favor of her impeachment last May 11.
Notably missing from the oath‑taking and proceedings was Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, whose continued absence highlights the deep legal and political conflicts currently gripping the upper chamber amid an outstanding International Criminal Court arrest warrant against him.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano presided over the solemn ceremony, where Senator Camille Villar, as the youngest member, administered the oath to him before he led the rest of the senators in taking their pledge. Cayetano declared that Resolution No. 39 — the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials — remains in full force, with provisions of the Senate rules and revised Rules of Court serving as supplementary guidelines. Immediately after the court was constituted, Cayetano ordered the Sergeant‑at‑Arms to serve a writ of summons and a copy of the impeachment complaint to Vice President Duterte, directing her to file a formal answer within a strict, non‑extendible period of ten calendar days. The prosecution panel from the House, meanwhile, was given five days from receipt of the response to submit their reply.
Procedural clarity was emphasized throughout the session, particularly regarding timelines.
When Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III sought clarification on whether the deadline referred to working or calendar days, Cayetano confirmed it counts as calendar days, leaving no room for delays or extensions.
The court also adopted flexible filing protocols, allowing documents to be submitted in person or electronically, with specific formatting guidelines to be issued later.
Cayetano directed the Clerk of Court to schedule a pre‑trial conference once all initial pleadings are filed, with the actual trial to begin on a date to be set after that phase is concluded. The session was suspended thereafter, setting the stage for a legal battle that will test institutional stability and the rule of law, while questions linger on how the chamber will manage internal issues such as Dela Rosa’s status and attendance moving forward.
