MANILA, Philippines — Barring any hitches, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said he will convene the Senate as Impeachment Court on Monday, May 18.
The House of Representatives (HOR) on Wednesday transmitted to the Senate the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Voting 257-25-9, the HOR on Monday decided to send the impeachment articles to the Senate for trial.
Cayetano on Thursday wrote to House Speaker Faustino Dy III confirming receipt of the impeachment articles, including all annexes.
"The Secretariat has been directed to include the Articles of Impeachment in the calendar for ordinary business for referral to the Impeachment Court, which shall be convened on May 18 at 3 p.m. or at the soonest possible time, absent any question on the rules and procedure relating to the transmitted articles," Cayetano said.
He said under Rule 1 of the Senate rules of procedure on impeachment trials, the Senate has "taken proper order of the impeachment and shall immediately proceed to its consideration, consistent with its mandate under Article XI, Section 3 of the Constitution."
Cayetano said that concerned parties would be directed to "appear before the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court on a date to be determined subsequenty."
Senate Secretary Mark Mendoza on Wednesday evening received the articles of impeachment from House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil.
Cayetano copy furnished Duterte of his May 14 letter to Dy.
