Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III is disappointed that his pitch for a Senate caucus on Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial failed to garner any support from the majority.

In a radio interview at Usapang Senado on DWIZ, Pimentel said that he even wrote down his opinion for his senator-colleagues to read.

"Disappointed ako, dahil lalo na sinulat ko pa nga yung opinion ko para mabasa ng lahat eh. So, ibig sabihin nun wala tayong nakukumbinsi (I'm disappointed because, especially since I took the time to write down my opinion for everyone to read. This means we failed to convince anyone)," he said.

"Meron namang klarong legal basis yung ating sinabi. Klaro naman yung argumento natin (We have a clear legal basis for what we've stated. Our argument is quite clear)," he added.

A week ago, Pimentel said that he would ask Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero to call for an all-member caucus in relation to Duterte's impeachment trial, which he believes can be started by March.

Yet in a press briefing on Thursday, Feb. 27, Escudero released the proposed calendar for the trial. Asked if there would be an all-senator caucus, Escudero said there would be none as most of his colleagues were busy or were traveling abroad.

Pimentel said that the majority may have supported Escudero's decision.

"Ito sinabi ko kay SP: I-aassume ko na yung latest decision mo ay merong backing ng majority senators (This is what I told SP: I would assume that your latest decision is backed by majority of the senators)," Pimentel said.

"Sinabi niya sa akin, tama...Tama daw na i-assume ko yun. Tama daw. So ang ibig sabihin nun, confident SP Chiz or talagang binigyan siya ng backing ng majority (He told me, that's right... It's right for me to assume that. That's what he said. So that means SP Chiz was either confident or was really backed by the majority)," he added.

In a press briefing, Escudero disclosed the following timeline:

• June 2 – Resumption of session and presentation of articles of impeachment
• June 3 – Convening of impeachment court and oath-taking of incumbent senator-judges
• June 4 – Issuance of summons
• June 14 to 24 – Reception of pleadings
• June 24 to July 25 – Pre-trial
• July 28 – Inaugural session of the Senate of the 20th Congress
• July 29 – Oathtaking of newly-elected senator-judges before sitting as an impeachment court
• July 30 – Start of trial

Escudero has also written to the Vice President and House Speaker Martin Romualdez about the upper chamber’s preparation for the trial, saying he has “taken steps to take proper order on the subject of impeachment pursuant to Rule 1, Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials".

Before this, Pimentel sent a letter to Escudero to emphasize that it's the Senate's duty to act on the impeachment complaint immediately and without delay.

Pimentel stated that given the gravity of impeachment proceedings, it was imperative that the Senate uphold its duty with urgency, diligence, and a steadfast commitment to the Constitution.

For Pimentel, the Senate can call for a special session on its own to act on the impeachment complaint.

Citing both the Constitution and the Senate's existing rules, Pimentel said that he did not get the impression that the upper chamber should be in session as a legislative body.

"Pwedeng magtawag ang Senado ng special session ng Senado. Hindi po ito yung special session na kailangan tawagin ng Presidente kasi pati House of Representatives aabalahin natin (The Senate can call for a special session just for the Senate. This is not the kind of special session that needs to be called by the President because it would involve the House of Representatives as well)," he said.

Escudero has since been firm that they will proceed with the trial by June, adding that it would be illegal to convene the Senate as an impeachment court while the Congress is not in session.