The senators and their biased will also be "on trial" during the actual hearings against impeachment respondent, Vice President Sara Duterte.

Thus, said House prosecution panel spokesperson Kabataan Party-list Rep. Renee Co over the weekend, as she noted that the senator-judges' impartiality--or lack thereof--would be on full display during the upcoming Senate impeachment trial.

“The rules of the Senate provide that the senator-judges must maintain political neutrality at all times as the trial goes on. So now, we have different senators who are already on record putting their sides,” Co, a lawyer, told a cable news network.

Co stressed that the impeachment trial will not only determine the fate of Duterte, but will also serve as a showcase of the Senate’s ability to protect the integrity of the Constitutional process.

“And if not, ang magiging on trial din is yung kayahan ng Senado na panghawakan ‘yung constitutional duty nila to sit as an impeachment court (the Senate itself will also be on trial for its ability to uphold its constitutional duty to sit as an impeachment court)—to maintain political neutrality as provided by the rules, and to provide due process—the entire gamut of it from start to finish,” she said.

The 24-member Senate formally convened as an impeachment court on May 18, during which senators took an oath to uphold “impartial justice” as senator-judges. Prior to the convening, however, several senators allied with the Dutertes had publicly expressed intentions to block the impeachment proceedings or questioned the merit of the findings made by the House Committee on Justice during its clarificatory hearings.

Acting as an impeachment court, the Senate subsequently issued a writ of summons directing Duterte to answer the articles of impeachment within 10 days from receipt.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) confirmed it had received the writ of summons and copies of the articles of impeachment on May 20, triggering the countdown for pre-trial proceedings.

Once Duterte files her answer, the House prosecution panel will have five days to submit its reply before the Senate impeachment court sets a more definite schedule for the pre-trial and trial proper. However, even if the vice president refuses to respond within the prescribed period, Senate impeachment rules provide that the trial must still proceed.

A two-thirds vote or 16 of the 24 senators is needed to convict Duterte. A conviction will oust her as Vice President, and get her a lifetime ban from holding public office.

The House trial spokesperson likewise expressed hope that senator-judges would ultimately decide based on evidence and constitutional duty rather than political loyalties.

“And whether some senators have loyalties or political interests at play, the continuing hope of the youth is that all those are not the controlling reasons why one decides one way or another,” Co said.

Co--the lone youth representative in Congress--says young Filipinos are growing increasingly weary of toxic politics, political spectacle, and governance driven by personality cults rather than accountability and competence.

“They want the government to grow up. They want leaders who take institutions, public trust, and accountability seriously. The youth are looking for seriousness, honesty, and transparency from public officials and institutions,” she said.

“The next generation will inherit the consequences of this trial...This is bigger than personalities and political camps. For many young Filipinos, this is about the kind of political culture we normalize, tolerate, and pass on to future generations,” Co added.