Senate eyes July 6 start of VP’s impeachment trial

THE SENATE is targeting July 6 for the start of the impeachment trial of Vice-President (VP) Sara Duterte-Carpio, potentially moving proceedings ahead of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s annual address to Congress, a minority senator said on Thursday.

Senator Erwin T. Tulfo said the timeline was discussed during a caucus, where senators mapped out a weekly schedule for the impeachment court.

“We’re looking at July 6, the impeachment trial may start earlier than expected, pre-SONA (State of the Nation Address),” he told reporters.

He said Mondays would combine regular plenary work with trial sessions, while Tuesdays and Wednesdays would be dedicated to impeachment proceedings.

Thursdays will be reserved for committee hearings, while Fridays will be used for motions and other chamber matters unless additional hearings are required.

“The day off of the senators will only be Saturday and Sunday,” he said.

Mr. Tulfo said the schedule could constrain legislative work as the chamber allocates more time for the trial.

The impeachment court convened on May 18, with Senate President Alan Peter S. Cayetano sitting as presiding officer.

The court summoned Ms. Duterte and gave her 10 days to respond. The prosecution was given a nonextendible five-day period to reply once her response is filed.

The Office of the Vice-President confirmed receipt of the summons on May 20.

The House of Representatives impeached Ms. Duterte on May 11 with 257 votes, alongside 25 opposition votes and nine abstentions.

House Secretary-General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil sent the articles of impeachment to the Senate on May 13.

Ms. Duterte faces allegations of misuse of public funds and threats against the President, First Lady Marie Louise Araneta-Marcos and former Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez. She has denied the charges.

A conviction in the Senate impeachment court would bar her permanently from holding public office.

Ms. Duterte was previously impeached in 2025, but the Senate archived the case after a Supreme Court ruling cited the one-year bar rule on repeat impeachment filings.

Meanwhile, Batangas Rep. Gerville R. Luistro opposed proposals allowing online participation of senator-judges in the proceedings, saying impeachment requires full in-person attendance.

“My humble submission about this issue is that senator-judges must personally witness the trial and personally vote because this process is very important,” she said in a statement in mixed English and Filipino.

The statement came after Senator Rodante D. Marcoleta suggested that Senator Ronald M. dela Rosa could be allowed to participate and vote via Zoom if necessary.

Mr. dela Rosa, who is known to be close to the Duterte family, had earlier taken refuge in the Senate after reports of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant linked to the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign, before later returning to participate in a vote that led to a change in Senate leadership.

Ms. Luistro stressed that senator-judges must be physically present to properly assess evidence and witness credibility. 

“It is very important that senator-judges personally see each witness,” she said, adding that reviewing documents and video evidence requires direct scrutiny.

“It is difficult to leave such a critical decision based only on online voting or remote participation,” she added. — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel and Pexcel John Bacon