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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Impeachment trial on VP Duterte to start 'forthwith' once it reaches Senate — Sotto

Impeachment trial on VP Duterte to start 'forthwith' once it reaches Senate — Sotto

Published Apr 21, 2026 02:36 pm
​Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III said on Tuesday, April 21 that he will act "forthwith" on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte once the Senate receives the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives. 
Sotto made the remark during a press briefing at the Senate as he provides a possible timeline for the Upper Chamber in proceeding with the impeachment trial of the vice president. 
"Yes, I will act on it with dispatch...Definitely forthwith. As soon as the Senate receives it, I will inform the Senate and refer it to the Committee on Rules," said Sotto, who also disclosed of already getting a team of lawyers to guide him as possible presiding officer of the impeachment court. 
"I know what the meaning of forthwith is," the Senate leader said, when asked about his definition of forthwith, a matter which was a bone of contention during the leadership of then Senate president Francis "Chiz" Escudero. 
According to Sotto, if the Senate receives the case from the House of Representatives on May 4—the rumored date when House members will vote on the case—the Senate may technically convene as an impeachment court immediately or the following day.
"Technically, we may convene by May 4--that's just two weeks away. So we may be able to do that," Sotto said.
"Yes...by May 4, if we receive the Articles of Impeachment (from the House), then we will immediately convene as an impeachment court," the Senate chief stressed. 
Once that happens, the trial may begin in as fast as two weeks, he added.
"Baka (Maybe) the following day (we will start acting on it once we receive the impeachment case). The plenary must be informed, the body must be informed officially," Sotto said in a press conference.
​"Once I receive it, we will inform the body​. And I will refer it to the Committee on Rules. That is the proper thing to do​," he said.
After its Holy Week break, the Senate is set to resume regular sessions on May 4, 2026.
So depending on the swiftness of the delivery and reception of the complaint, Sotto said it is also possible for the Senate to convene as an impeachment court by May 5.
​"Let's say by ​May 5​, mag-convene​ (kami as impeachment court). Within a month​ (ang trial)? ​Matagal na yun​. Tingin ko mga in a matter of 2 weeks more or less​, nakahanda na yun​ (A month is already long. Maybe in a matter of two weeks or less, the preparations are already finished)," he added.
​As presiding officer, Sotto said he will also suggest to the members of the Senate impeachment court, for them to adopt the rules that were already used during the impeachment trial of former chief justice Renato Corona. 
"I suggest that we adopt it because malawak na yun (it's already encompassing). In the rules, it also includes the rules of court as suppletory. Lahat ng kakailanganin namin sa impeachment naroroon na sa rules na yun (All that we would need for the impeachment proceedings are already there in the rules). Even the pre-trial, re-trial or whatever recommendation they want," the Senate chief said.
Sotto also said he will seek the consent of all members of the Senate in regards with the schedule of the impeachment trial. 
According to him, he is considering a whole day session for the Senate in the morning and holding the impeachment proceedings in the afternoon every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Sotto said he has already brought up this topic during a dinner meeting with some senators earlier. 
"Sabi ko sige (I said) let's discuss it with the other members, the entire Senate pati (including the) minority (bloc). Just in case," he said.
"Hindi pwede pabayaan ang (We cannot neglect) legislative work. But then the suggestion of Sen. (Panfilo) Lacson was that we do it MWF (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) ang impeachment, and Tuesdays, Thursdays ang Senate (session)," he pointed out.
"If ever we do agree, all the members agree, we need the consent of the majority of the members in Senate," he stressed.

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Tito Sotto Impeachment Sara Duterte
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