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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Senate minority bloc to initiate VP impeachment trial on Monday

Senate minority bloc to initiate VP impeachment trial on Monday

Published Jun 9, 2025 01:12 pm

At A Glance

  • Sen. Risa Hontiveros said the Minority Bloc will not allow the Senate to be the first to defy the Constitution.

The Senate Minority Bloc will push for the commencement of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte today, Monday, June 9, 2025.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros bared the minority’s plan to initiate the impeachment trial against Duterte in a press conference Monday morning. 

The Senate will hold its plenary session at 3 p.m. 

“My fellow countrymen, we will not allow the Senate to be the first to defy the Constitution,” Hontiveros told reporters during the press conference. 

“That is why this afternoon, later in the plenary, we in the Senate Minority will take action to begin fulfilling our constitutional duty,” she said. 

“We, in the Senate Minority will formally move to commence the opening rites in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte,” Hontiveros said.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Hontiveros are the only members of the minority bloc in the Upper Chamber.

Both have questioned Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s decision to postpone the impeachment proceedings despite the “forthwith” clause in the Constitution. 

Escudero has scheduled the presentation of charges against Duterte by the House of Representatives panel of prosecutors on June 11, which is the last day of the session before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die.

Hontiveros said that after the presentation of charges, the Senate can proceed with convening the impeachment court on the same day.

After which, they can now allow the Senate chief to take his oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court and administer the oath to all senators who will sit as senator-judges of the impeachment court.

“We will also move for the Senate to convene as an impeachment court, and for the Articles of Impeachment — received from the House of Representatives back in February — to be formally presented to the body,” she said.

“We are not in the trial proper. Just the opening rites. Oath-taking and formalities. This won’t take an hour,” she stressed.

“So let’s not pretend an hour is too much to ask. For other proposals in the plenary, we go until midnight. I think we can find time for this,” she added.

Hontiveros said the Senate must not be heedless and callous to the growing calls for the institution to fulfill its mandate and begin the impeachment trial. 

Related Tags

impeachment complaint impeachment trial VP Sara Duterte Risa Hontiveros Senate minority bloc
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