Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson indicated on Saturday that the formal trial of Vice President Sara Duterte might not commence until June, citing the extensive procedural mandates that follow the official transmittal of charges from the House of Representatives.
During a radio interview, Lacson clarified that while the Senate is prepared to convene as an impeachment court immediately, the legal timeline required by due process will naturally extend the schedule.
“Once the articles of impeachment are transmitted to us, if we follow the processes, we’re talking of at least three weeks before the actual trial starts,” Lacson said.
The veteran lawmaker detailed that the court must first issue formal summons, allow the Vice President time to submit a verified reply, and hold a preliminary conference before the first witness can be called.
Lacson emphasized the importance of a “pre-trial” phase to streamline the proceedings and avoid the procedural chaos seen in past trials.
“I recall that during the (impeachment) trial of (then Chief Justice Renato) Corona, there was no preliminary conference. So there was some confusion during the trial because ‘surprise’ witnesses were introduced,” he recalled.
To ensure a more organized process this time, Lacson advocated for a structured preliminary meeting between both legal teams.
“It is better to have a preliminary conference where the prosecution and defense agree on which issues would be tackled and which would not before the trial,” he added.
Lacson also addressed the possibility of judicial intervention, as two petitions seeking a temporary restraining order (TRO) have already been filed with the Supreme Court—one by Duterte’s legal camp and another by her supporters.
While he maintained that the impeachment court is a co-equal body, he noted that the Senate would deliberate collectively on how to respond to any High Court mandate.
“But if it compels us, we will discuss the matter. The impeachment court is a constitutional body and the Supreme Court has said it respects not only the Senate, but the impeachment court as co-equal,” Lacson said.