The Philippine Senate is set to formally convene as an impeachment court on Monday, May 18, to begin proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced.
The announcement came via a letter dispatched by Cayetano to his fellow lawmakers after the upper chamber officially received the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives on May 13. The lower house had previously voted 257-25-9 on May 11 to impeach the Vice President, triggering the constitutional process for a trial.
In his directive, Cayetano underscored the upper chamber’s constitutional duty to act on the transmitted charges.
“Pursuant to Rule I of the Senate Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials and consistent with its mandate under Article XI, Section 3 of the Constitution, the Senate has taken proper order of the impeachment and shall immediately proceed to its consideration,” the letter stated.
According to the Senate President, the chamber will officially assume its role as an Impeachment Court at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, operating “in accordance with the applicable rules and procedure.”
As part of the formal opening protocols, Cayetano has instructed all senators—who will act as juror-judges throughout the trial—to wear their official judicial robes for the initial convening.