Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III announced on Thursday that the general public will be permitted to witness the potential impeachment proceedings of Vice President Sara Duterte, even if the sessions are conducted within the Senate plenary hall.
The assurance followed an all-senator caucus held early Thursday morning to discuss the chamber’s readiness. The meeting was attended by key members of the majority bloc, including Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, and Deputy Majority Leaders JV Ejercito and Risa Hontiveros, alongside Senators Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, and Loren Legarda. From the nine-member minority bloc, only Senator Robin Padilla was present.
Sotto clarified that the caucus served as a proactive measure to address logistical requirements and scheduling, should the House of Representatives formally transmit the articles of impeachment.
“As of now, (what’s) crucial is the timetable. So again, everything will rely on whether the articles of impeachment will be transmitted to us or not,” Sotto explained to reporters.
The Senate’s internal preparations come on the heels of a decisive move by the House Committee on Justice, which recently found probable cause to impeach the Vice President. The committee’s recommendation followed a series of four hearings centered on two separate impeachment complaints.
While the Senate awaits the formal elevation of the case, Sotto emphasized that the chamber is focused on establishing a clear framework for the trial to ensure transparency and public access.