The Philippine Senate formally convened as an impeachment court on Monday afternoon, setting in motion the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on charges that include the alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, and threats against top government officials.
Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano had scheduled the convening for 3:00 p.m. on May 18, with the issuance of a writ of summons among the first orders of business. Under the planned procedure, senators were to convene as an impeachment court before Cayetano takes his oath as presiding officer, followed by the oath-taking of the 23 senator-judges, after which the Senate would issue the summons to the Vice President.
Cayetano guaranteed that the trial proper will follow immediately after the court convenes. “Once you convene and issue the summons, it will move straight,” he said.
Under Senate impeachment rules, Duterte has a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of the summons to submit her answer to the Articles of Impeachment. Prosecutors, in turn, will have five days to file a reply.
The consolidated articles of impeachment cite allegations of misuse of confidential funds, possible falsification of official documents, threats against constitutional officials, and unexplained wealth, among other charges. The House is seeking Duterte’s removal from office and her perpetual disqualification from holding any government position.
The House voted 257–25, with nine abstentions, to impeach Duterte on May 11, making her the first official in Philippine history to be impeached twice by the lower chamber. The first impeachment, carried out in February 2025, was ultimately voided by the Supreme Court on constitutional grounds.
Cayetano was elected Senate president on May 11 following a leadership coup against his predecessor, Senator Tito Sotto. His commitment to proceeding without delay came less than a day after the House transmitted the impeachment articles to the Senate on the night of May 13.
The Senate chief stressed that the process is not discretionary, saying the chamber is preparing a draft schedule based strictly on constitutional and procedural timelines. A two-thirds majority vote among senator-judges is required to convict and remove Duterte from office.
