For security and operational reasons, the Senate will limit media access to certain areas in the Upper Chamber in preparation to Vice President Sara Duterte’s filing of an answer to the Articles of Impeachment on June 1, Monday.

Senators, led by Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, take their oath as the impeachment court convenes at the Senate in Pasay City on Monday, May 18, 2026, for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Duterte is facing impeachment charges over alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, and statements against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and then House Speaker Martin Romualdez. (Mark Balmores)

In a two-paged media advisory issued by Senate Secretary Jose Luis Montales released on May 31, 2026, the Office of the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) is ordered to ensure that media access shall be limited to the second floor only.

Access to the Office of the Senate Secretary located on the sixth floor, and where Duterte and or members of her legal team will be filing the answer to the impeachment complaint, shall be restricted to authorized officials of the Impeachment Court and members of the Vice President’s legal team, according to Montales.

Also to facilitate media coverage, the Senate designated the Quezon and Tolentino Rooms on the second floor of the Upper Chamber as media holding and coverage areas for the event.

The Vice President and or members of her legal team will be escorted to these rooms for any press briefing or media interaction should they wish to do so.

“To ensure the orderly and uninterrupted conduct of the filing process, media personnel shall not conduct interviews in hallways, corridors, elevators, stairwells, and other access points within Senate premises,” Montales said in the advisory.

“Any media interaction by the Vice President or members of her legal team, should they choose to engage with the media, shall be conducted in the Quezon and Tolentino rooms only,” he also said.

“These arrangements are intended to ensure the orderly, secure and efficient conduct of the filing process while allowing the media to effectively cover this significant event. Given the limited space within the Senate premises and the anticipated number of media representatives, these measures are necessary to ensure safety, facilitate movement, and provide equitable access and accommodation for all concerned,” he further said.

“We respectfully seek the understanding and cooperation of all members of the media,” Montales also stressed.

The Senate Impeachment Court earlier gave Vice President Sara Duterte until June 1, 2026, to respond to its summons. A copy of the summons had also been furnished to the prosecution panel.

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, presiding officer of the impeachment court, earlier explained that the respondent is given 10 calendar days from the service of the summons within which to file her answer. Since the last day falls on a Saturday, the deadline for the respondent to file her answer was adjusted to Monday, June 1, 2026.

After this, the prosecution panel, upon receipt of the respondent’s answer, shall have five calendar days from receipt within which to reply if they opt to do so, according to Cayetano.

The tentative schedule for the official start of the vice president’s impeachment trial has been set on July 6, according to Sen. Erwin Tulfo.

The Senate formally received the copies of impeachment complaint last May 13, two days after then Senate president Vicente “Tito” Sotto III was ousted as the Senate leader. Cayetano was then installed as the new Senate chief after successfully gaining 13 votes, that was completed by Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who returned after six months of being absent from the Senate.