For Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, acting “forthwith” on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte means proceeding the day after the Senate receives it.

"Sa akin ang forthwith the following day (For me, forthwith means the following day)," he said in an interview on Thursday, April 30.

Sotto said that they may convene as an impeachment court on May 13.

"Ayan ang ayaw ko pag-usapan, speculative. If ever pinasa nila, 11, o 12, transmit nila. O 13, we will discuss it already and convene as impeachment court (That’s what I don’t want to talk about—speculative. If ever they pass it on the 11th and by the 12th transmit it, on the 13th we will already discuss it and convene as the impeachment court)," he said.

Asked about the Supreme Court’s recent pronouncement on acting “forthwith,” the Senate President maintained that the ruling pertains to the specific petition before the High Court and does not dictate how the Senate carries out its constitutional duties.

“I think the Supreme Court decision is based on the petition…It does not have anything to do with the work of the Senate. We are a co-equal branch,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sotto said that they have yet to set a timetable for impeachment proceedings, stating preparations remain conditional on the actual transmittal of the articles of impeachment. He called for an all-senator caucus on Thursday to discuss the matter.

From the majority bloc, those who attended the meeting were Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senators JV Ejercito, Risa Hontiveros, Camille Villar, Loren Legarda, Lito Lapid, and Raffy Tulfo.

From the minority bloc, only Senator Robin Padilla attended.

Senator Rodante Marcoleta attended a Senate hearing but did not join the meeting.

Sotto said senators have already discussed “possibilities” and initial preparations should the chamber receive the complaint, including coordinating with minority members to relay suggestions across the bloc.

“Pinag-usapan na namin yung mga possibilities (We talked about the possibilities)…but all these suggestions and preparations and possibilities of timing is depending on whether the articles of impeachment reach the Senate,” he said.

He stressed that any formal decision, including scheduling. will only be made once the articles are officially received.

“As soon as we receive it, that’s the time we will officially decide on what to do with the timing,” he added, noting there is currently no set schedule.

The Senate President, however, said one thing is certain: the chamber will convene as an impeachment court once the articles of impeachment are transmitted.

Meanwhile, Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said that more than P27 million has been allocated for the impeachment trial.

He said that in 2025, 60 robes were made at P7,000 per piece. If the funds are not used, they will be returned to the treasury.

"Kung di magamit, isosoli sa treasury. Kung di matuloy, isosoli sa treasury (If it cannot be used, it will be returned to the treasury. If it does not push through, it will also be returned to the treasury)," he said.

Sotto said that individual preparation of senators is significant in this impeachment trial.

"Napakahalaga (It's important), because the country, our countrymen are looking at this very seriously. Minomonitor nila yung sa House, they will expect us to do our job once we receive it," he said.

Senator Pia Cayetano stated that, being a lawyer and having participated in the previous impeachment proceedings, she will also come prepared.