Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III clarified on Thursday that a potential impeachment trial for Vice President Sara Duterte could proceed even during the Senate’s sine die adjournment, asserting that the impeachment court functions as a distinct entity from the regular legislative body.
While the Senate is scheduled to adjourn on June 5, Sotto explained that the transition into an impeachment court allows for a different operational schedule.
His remarks came during a briefing with reporters following an all-senator caucus held to discuss the chamber’s readiness for the high-profile proceedings.
“The impeachment Court is different from the Senate. So kailangan pag-usapan namin yung timetable, just in case,” Sotto noted.
However, the Senate President emphasized that the timing remains dependent on the actions of the lower house.
“Kasi lahat yan speculative. Hintayin muna natin yung articles of impeachment if they pass it and they will transmit, then we discuss everything else,” he said.
Sotto’s stance marks a significant departure from the approach taken by his predecessor, Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero. In 2025, Escudero opted to wait for the resumption of the regular session before convening the impeachment court.
This cautious approach was recently validated by the Supreme Court, which ruled on April 29, that the constitutional requirement to proceed “forthwith” implies a “reasonable time” rather than an immediate mandate.
The House of Representatives is expected to move quickly, with Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua indicating a plenary vote could occur by the second week of May. Sotto signaled that the Senate is prepared to respond almost immediately upon transmittal.
“If ever pinasa nila, (May) 11, or 12, transmit nila, o (May) 13, we will discuss it already and convene as impeachment court,” Sotto added.
The Senate’s preparations follow the House Committee on Justice’s unanimous vote on Wednesday finding probable cause to unseat the Vice President, based on allegations including the misuse of confidential funds and grave threats.