The Senate will enforce temporary media restrictions on Monday, June 1, as Vice President Sara Duterte is set to submit her response to the Articles of Impeachment.
According to a two-page advisory released on May 31 by Senate Secretary Jose Luis Montales, the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) has been instructed to implement security protocols to maintain order during the high-profile filing.
Under these new rules, reporters will be restricted to designated sections on the second floor of the Senate building. The sixth floor, which houses the Office of the Senate Secretary where Duterte or her lawyers will submit the documents, will remain off-limits to everyone except authorized impeachment court officials and the Vice President’s legal representatives.
To facilitate press coverage, the Senate has prepared the Quezon and Tolentino Rooms as official media holding and briefing areas.
Any potential press conferences or statements from Duterte’s team must take place inside these designated spaces.
“To ensure the orderly and uninterrupted conduct of the filing process, media personnel shall not conduct interviews in hallways, corridors, elevators, stairwells, and other access points within Senate premises,” Montales said in the advisory.
“Any media interaction by the Vice President or members of her legal team, should they choose to engage with the media, shall be conducted in the Quezon and Tolentino rooms only,” he added.
Balancing Security and Press Freedom
Montales defended the temporary restrictions, stating they are crucial for safety, crowd management, and providing balanced access for all news outlets.
“These arrangements are intended to ensure the orderly, secure and efficient conduct of the filing process while allowing the media to effectively cover this significant event. Given the limited space within the Senate premises and the anticipated number of media representatives, these measures are necessary to ensure safety, facilitate movement, and provide equitable access and accommodation for all concerned,” he said.
“We respectfully seek the understanding and cooperation of all members of the media,” he added.
The Impeachment Timeline
The Senate Impeachment Court ordered the Vice President to submit her formal answer by June 1, 2026, with a copy to be provided to prosecutors.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, presiding over the impeachment court, noted that respondents are given 10 calendar days from receiving the summons to respond. Because the actual deadline landed on a Saturday, it was extended to the following business day, June 1.
Once Duterte files her response, the prosecution team has five calendar days to submit a counter-reply if they deem it necessary.
Senator Erwin Tulfo previously indicated that the Vice President’s impeachment trial is tentatively slated to begin on July 6.
The Articles of Impeachment were officially turned over to the Senate on May 13, shortly after a leadership shakeup where Vicente “Tito” Sotto III was unseated by Cayetano as Senate President through a 13-vote majority.