Senate President Vicente Sotto III met with several majority senators last week to discuss the possible transmission of impeachment articles against Vice President Sara Duterte from the House of Representatives.
Sotto clarified that the gathering was an informal dinner and not an official caucus, but said it was important to prepare the chamber for its constitutional duty.
“Yes I just wanted to give my colleagues a heads up on the possibility of receiving the articles of impeachment from the HOR. It’s best that we prepare for it as senator judges,” Sotto said on Monday.
He further stressed the casual nature of the meeting.
“It was not a caucus or Senate meet. I just invited majority senators who were in town for dinner. It was simply a dinner exchanging talks and expectations. Definitely not a caucus.”
Under the 1987 Constitution, the Senate holds the “sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment.” To prepare for that role, Sotto said he is reviewing legal procedures.
“I am undergoing a crash program on the Rules of Court to jibe with our own Rules to be sure in case of any eventuality,” he said.
The House Committee on Justice is currently conducting clarificatory hearings to determine whether there is probable cause to impeach the Vice President.
On April 14, Ramil Madriaga, an alleged former aide to Duterte, testified before the committee. The next hearing is set for April 22 and will focus on the Vice President’s alleged unexplained wealth.
Lawmakers aim to finish proceedings by April 29 and submit a formal report once sessions resume on May 4.