Senate impeachment court summons VP Sara

VP camp says it will answer impeach raps

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate has officially convened as an impeachment court to try Vice President Sara Duterte, ordering her to file her response to the Articles of Impeachment within 10 days.

Unlike last year’s transmittal of Duterte’s Articles of Impeachment, the convening of the court yesterday was not marred by hours of debates, with senators trading their standard legislative attire for judicial robes as soon as acting Majority Leader Joel Villanueva moved to refer the articles to the Impeachment Court.

This marked the formal beginning of the historic impeachment trial of the country’s second-highest official.

“We will comply and file the appropriate response in accordance with the Constitution and applicable rules,” Duterte’s defense team said in a statement.

“At this stage, and out of respect for the process, we find it prudent to refrain from further comment,” it added.

Police in Metro Manila and Davao City were on alert yesterday against possible violent protest actions, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said.

Cayetano’s oath as presiding judge was administered by Sen. Camille Villar, the youngest senator in the chamber.

The Senate President then administered the oath to 22 other senators, with Sen. Ronald dela Rosa absent – as expected – following his pre-dawn escape from the Senate last week. Immediately after administering the oath of senator-judges, Cayetano ordered the issuance of the writ of summons.

“The court having been organized and the Articles of Impeachment having been presented, let a writ of summons be issued to VP Sara who is directed to file an answer within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt,” Cayetano announced, citing the rules of procedure on impeachment trials.

He directed the Senate sergeant-at-arms to personally serve the written summons alongside a copy of the Articles of Impeachment to the Vice President, who is also directed to “appear before the session hall of the Senate upon notice.”

5 days to reply

Once Duterte files her defense, the House prosecution panel is permitted to file a reply within a similarly non-extendible period of five days from receipt of the answer.

“The House prosecution panel will comply with all orders, directives and processes of the impeachment court, and we are ready to present the evidence before the impeachment court in the coming days,” said Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, a member of the prosecution team, in a statement.

During the session, Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III interjected to clarify the timeline: “May we be clarified when you say 10 days, is that working days or calendar days?”

He apparently had in mind a Supreme Court ruling declaring that the court shall count days as calendar, not session days.

“Calendar days,” Cayetano confirmed, noting that the five-day deadline for the prosecution also follows the calendar count.

To streamline the proceedings, Cayetano stated that parties may file their pleadings and annexes in person or via email.

“The clerk of court is hereby authorized to calendar the case for pre-trial and issue the corresponding notices to the parties after the last pleading is filed,” Cayetano explained.

“Upon conclusion of the pre-trial, the trial proper shall commence on a date and time fixed by the court of which the parties shall be duly notified,” he added.

Lawmaking unaffected

Recognizing the immensity of the undertaking, the Senate President assured the chamber and the public that the trial will not paralyze the Senate’s lawmaking duties.

“In pursuit of impartial justice we will come up with an impeachment calendar that is fair to the prosecution and to the defense and will allow us to continue to function in the legislative side of our work,” Cayetano said.

Reacting to the convening of the impeachment court, Malacañang said accountability should be the guiding principle of senators serving as senator-judges.

“What we should always remember is that – not only the Senate and senators, but we Filipinos ourselves – those who should be held accountable, according to the President, must be held accountable,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said in Filipino at a press briefing.

“So let no one be an instrument of anyone to escape accountability,” she added, while stressing that President Marcos will not intervene in the impeachment trial of his former ally.

While the senators were having session, different groups converged outside the Senate demanding that the lawmakers “straighten up” as all eyes are on the upper chamber for the impeachment trial of Duterte.

“Our objective here is for the Senate to straighten up and serve the Filipino people rather than engage in a power struggle,” said Leody de Guzman of Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino.

“Hold all corrupt officials accountable, not just Sara, not just Cayetano, but the entire Senate, as well as President Marcos and his camp,” he added.

“A lot of things are happening in the Philippines already and yet, they chose to trigger chaos in the Senate,” Giselle Albano, spokesperson for the Filipinos Do Not Yield Movement, said.

“What’s happening in the Senate right now is like a zarzuela,” former lawmaker Arlene Brosas said. “The senators themselves are fighting each other.”

Some Duterte supporters also trooped to the Senate, emphasizing that 32 million Filipinos voted for her in 2022 as vice president.

“Their heart is not for the country,” she said of the impeachment proponents.

“Maybe it’s in their feet or their waist,” one Duterte supporter said.

“We call on the public to remain vigilant, form or join impeachment watch activities in schools, communities and work places,” Bayan secretary general Raymond Palatino said. — Helen Flores, Evelyn Macairan, Emmanuel Tupas, EJ Macababbad, Delon Porcalla