The Senate will further disgrace itself if it decides to block the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte before hearing the evidence in an actual trial.

Akbayan Party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña had this to say Friday, May 15 even as his House colleagues from both the minority and majority blocs have expressed wariness over possible non-trial due to technical reasons.

“And there has to be a trial. Nakakahiya na ang Senado kung kanilang pipigilan pa ‘yung pag-iimbestiga na ito (It would be shameful for the Senate if they still block this investigation). They cannot do this to the Filipino people the second time around,” Cendaña said in a chance interview.

“Itong mga nangyayari nitong nakaraang araw, nakakahiya na nga ‘yung Senado. Mas ipapahiya pa nila ‘yung sarili nila (What has been happening these past days is already shameful for the Senate. They would only embarrass themselves further). So to preserve the integrity of the Senate, there has to be a trial,” added the deputy minority leader.

His fellow Akbayan Party-list nominee, Assistant Minority Leader Rep. Chel Diokno, echoed fears of a non-trial, like what happened in 2025 when the Vice President was impeached the first time.

“There should be [an impeachment trial]. Dapat lang. Kasi ‘yan mismo ang utos ng ating Saligang Batas na ‘pag natanggap ang Articles of Impeachment, walang choice ang Senado kundi ilitisin ang kaso,” Diokno said when asked if there was going to be an impeachment trial.

(That is only right, because it is the mandate of our Constitution that once the Articles of Impeachment are received, the Senate has no choice but to try the case.)

“When the Constitution says conduct a trial forthwith, ibig sabihin ilatag ang ebidensya, testigo at dokumento (it means present the evidence, witnesses, and documents),” he added.

Newly elected Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano earlier announced that the Senate would formally convene as an impeachment court on Monday, May 18, to begin proceedings on the impeachment case against Duterte.

Senior Deputy Minority Leader Mamamayang Liberal (ML) Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said the House prosecution panel, of which she and Diokno are members of, is still discussing whether its members would physically appear at the Senate on Monday.

“Pinag-uusapan pa po iyan, ‘yung tungkol sa pagpunta ng panel of prosecutors kasi kagaya ng sinabi ni Cong. Chel ay ito ay convene — ‘yung announcement galing sa Senate President is tungkol sa convening ng impeachment court,” De Lima said.

(That is still being discussed, regarding the panel of prosecutors going, because as Cong. Chel said, this is about convening—the announcement from the Senate President is about convening the impeachment court.)

“Kaming panel of prosecutors, we will be discussing kung pupunta na ba kami on Monday rin para magpakita na handa na kami at ating i-confirm ‘yung pag-transmit ng articles of impeachment,” she added.

(We, the panel of prosecutors, will be discussing whether we should go on Monday as well to show that we are ready and to confirm the transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment.)

Over at the House majority bloc, Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong and Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua also acknowledged concerns that some members of the Senate could try to gave the impeachment trial dismissed outright.

“The constitutional duty of the Senate is to proceed to trial and receive evidence before rendering judgment,” Adiong said. “May seryosong pangamba ngayon na baka ang impeachment trial ay mauwi sa dismissal or ma-remand pabalik sa Kamara bago pa marinig ang ebidensiya.”

(There is now serious concern that the impeachment trial may end in dismissal or be remanded back to the House before the evidence is even heard.)

“That will be a grave disservice to the public, especially after the House has already performed its constitutional duty,” added the assistant majority leader.

“Every time SP Cayetano speaks, he says the Senate will immediately convene as an impeachment court. Pero never pa natin naririnig nang malinaw ay kung kailan nila sisimulan ang trial, kailan maririnig ang ebidensiya (But what we have never clearly heard is when they will begin the trial, when the evidence will be heard). and whether they will reject any motion to dismiss without first hearing the case,” Adiong said.

He says the distinction matters because convening the impeachment court is only the beginning of the Senate’s constitutional responsibility, while the real test of accountability is whether senators will allow the prosecution and the defense to present evidence before any move to dismiss or remand is entertained.

Chua, another solon-prosector, was more optimistic, and said the senator-judges ought to "hear the side of the twice-impeached Vice President Duterte and to examine the evidence that the House Prosecution Team will present before the Impeachment Court".

He also said recent developments before the Supreme Court (SC) do not indicate any imminent intervention that would halt the proceedings.

“We also note that the Supreme Court has not been inclined to issue TROs in recent related matters. That gives us confidence that the constitutional process is being allowed to move forward,” Chua said.