For Vice President Duterte's trial: Impeachment court convenes

CEBU, Philippines — The Senate officially convened as an impeachment court on Monday afternoon, May 18, to try Vice President Sara Duterte, ordering her to file her response to the articles of impeachment within 10 calendar days from receipt of the summons.

Unlike last year’s transmittal of the impeachment articles, the convening proceeded without lengthy debates, as senators exchanged their legislative attire for judicial robes after acting Majority Leader Joel Villanueva moved to refer the complaint to the impeachment court.

The move marked the formal opening of the historic trial against the country’s second-highest official.

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano took his oath as presiding officer, administered by the chamber’s youngest senator, Camille Villar.

Cayetano then administered the oath to the other 22 senators present. Sen. Ronald dela Rosa was absent from Monday’s session following reports that he left the Senate premises last week to avoid arrest.

Immediately after the chamber was organized as an impeachment court, Cayetano ordered the issuance of a writ of summons against the vice president.

“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 said, citing the Senate Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials.

He directed the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms to personally serve the summons, together with a copy of the impeachment articles, to the Vice President, who was also instructed to appear before the Senate upon notice.

Under the rules, once Duterte files her answer, the House prosecution panel will have five calendar days to submit its reply.

During the proceedings, Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III sought clarification on whether the deadlines referred to working days or calendar days, citing a Supreme Court ruling on the matter.

“Calendar days,” Cayetano confirmed, adding that both the 10-day and five-day periods would be counted consecutively.

To streamline the proceedings, Cayetano said parties may file pleadings and annexes either personally or through email.

He also said the Senate’s impeachment rules under Resolution No. 39 would govern the proceedings, with the Rules of the Senate and the Revised Rules of Court applying suppletorily whenever applicable.

Following the exchange of pleadings, the Senate will schedule pre-trial proceedings before the trial proper begins.

“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 said.

“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.

Cayetano assured the public that the impeachment trial would not completely disrupt the Senate’s legislative functions, saying he would consult both the majority and minority blocs in setting the schedule of proceedings.

“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,” he said.

The Senate formally received the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives on May 13.

The lead-up to the trial was marked by political tensions, including a leadership shake-up reportedly linked to opposition against Duterte’s impeachment, as well as a standoff involving an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Dela Rosa and a reported shooting incident involving security personnel inside the Senate building.— FPL Philippine Star News Service CEBU NEWS