MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Win Gatchalian confirmed on Friday, September 25, that the Senate Impeachment Court will press forward with the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, despite a pending Supreme Court challenge against the tribunal’s updated voting rules.
Gatchalian clarified that the absence of an injunction from the High Court leaves no legal obstacle to continuing the proceedings.
“We’ll proceed. There’s no TRO (temporary restraining order) so we’ll proceed,” Gatchalian told reporters.
The announcement follows a petition for certiorari and prohibition filed by former Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez. Rodriguez asked the Supreme Court to strike down the impeachment tribunal’s September 23 resolution, which altered the mechanism for determining the vote requirement needed for a conviction.
He further requested a temporary restraining order and a writ of preliminary injunction to stop the tribunal from conducting or enforcing any judgment vote under the contested rules.
The tribunal’s updated regulation calculates the required two-thirds vote using only the senator-judges who are legally and factually eligible to participate at the moment of judgment, departing from the standard baseline of the full 24-member Senate membership.
When asked about the Senate’s potential course of action should the High Court rule on the petition, Gatchalian stated that the body would address the matter once a directive is issued.
“Well, we’ll cross the bridge when we get there. Hindi natin alam kung ano magiging decision,” he said.
Gatchalian reaffirmed that the trial remains set to continue as planned.
“So yes, we will proceed (on Monday),” he reiterated.