(UPDATE) SENATE President Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday convened the chamber as an impeachment court and directed Vice President Sara Duterte to reply within 10 days on the articles of impeachment against her.
The move follows the transmittal of the articles of impeachment on May 13 by the House of Representatives to the Senate for trial.
Cayetano will serve as presiding officer while the senators will act as judges. Only Sen. Ronald dela Rosa was absent at the session Monday. Wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity, dela Rosa went missing again after he surfaced on May 11 to help unseat Sen. Vicente Sotto III and install Cayetano as Senate president.
Cayetano suspended the session to allow the senators to don their crimson robes to symbolize their transition from senator to judge.
"Pursuant to Article 7 of the Rules of Procedure of Impeachment Trial, she is directed to appear before the session hall of the Senate of the Philippines upon notice," Cayetano said of the vice president.
"The court has been organized and the articles of impeachment have been presented. Let a writ of summons be issued to the Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte who was directed to file an answer within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt," he said.
Cayetano directed the sergeant-at-arms to "serve the written summon on Vice President Sara Duterte along with the copy of the articles of impeachment." "The prosecution may file a reply within a non-extendible period of five days from receipt of the answer. The parties may file their pleadings and annexes in person or through electronic mail," he said.
"All other pleadings, motions, similar papers intended for the consideration of this court may be filed electronically. We will circulate with specific instructions on the format of the pleadings and manner of electronic filing for the guidance of all parties," he added.
The defense team of the vice president said the will comply with the impeachment court's order.
Sen. Camille Villar administered the oath for Cayetano as presiding officer.
Following Cayetano’s oath, the 22 senators present also took their oath as senator-judges in the impeachment court, pledging to fairly and impartially try the case filed against the vice president.
The impeachment trial is expected to tackle the allegations contained in the complaint transmitted by the House of Representatives last week.
Newly installed Senate Secretary-General Jose Montales, acting as impeachment court's clerk of court, advised the people in the gallery to keep quiet during the proceedings.
Montales reported that the impeachment articles were referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and "consequently to the Senate sitting as impeachment court." "The articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte are now presented to the court for proper disposition and action," Montales said.
The oath taking marked the formal opening of the impeachment proceedings against Duterte inside the Senate session hall.
No delays
Cayetano on Monday said the Senate leadership would push through with the impeachment proceedings against Duterte without unnecessary delays, and intensified accusations against the National Bureau of Investigation over last week’s shooting incident inside the Senate complex.
Speaking after the Senate convened as an impeachment court, Cayetano said both majority and minority senators agreed to preserve the Senate’s institutional processes despite political divisions.
“Even if they don’t have the numbers, the mutual process in the Senate should not be delayed,” he said.
The remarks come days after tensions erupted inside the Senate compound amid attempts by authorities to arrest dela Rosa, triggering a confrontation involving Senate security and NBI personnel.
Cayetano claimed the NBI operation was deliberate and coordinated, alleging Senate officials were intentionally kept in the dark.
“They did it on purpose,” he said. “The GSIS never brings in the NBI for a project issue. It’s usually the police.” He also questioned why exits commonly used by senators were blocked while armed operatives were inside the premises, saying the burden is now on the NBI to prove the incident was merely a coincidence.
Cayetano also criticized efforts by the Department of Justice to investigate the incident, saying agencies involved in the operation could not be expected to conduct an impartial probe.
“That’s why my message to him is: you can’t be the hero if you’re the villain,” Cayetano said, referring to Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida.
Cayetano, however, separately praised Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla for what he described as a professional and impartial approach in dealing with Senate officials during the incident.
Meanwhile, Cayetano confirmed discussions are ongoing on who will chair the impeachment jury, saying senators being considered include Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and Sen. Pia Cayetano.
On alert
The Philippine National Police (PNP) placed all units on alert in Metro Manila and key regions ahead of the impeachment trial in anticipation of protest actions.
PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said the police are prepared to secure political activities from opposing sides.
“The goal is always to ensure that all activities will start and end peacefully. We expect high emotions from supporters, and this is where police presence is needed to maintain peace and order,” Nartatez said in a statement.
He said police deployments have been reinforced in strategic locations, including areas surrounding the Senate and other identified convergence points nationwide.
Authorities are anticipating demonstrations in parts of Metro Manila and Davao City in connection with the impeachment trial.
In recent days, supporters of dela Rosa protested outside the Senate premises amid attempts to arrest the lawmaker on the strength of a warrant from the ICC.
The PNP assurances came as protesters from opposing groups started gathered outside the Senate in Pasay City.
One side near the Senate gates was occupied by supporters of Duterte and dela Rosa, calling for the dismissal of the impeachment case and defending the vice president against accusations raised before the chamber.
On the opposite side, members of labor and progressive groups including Kilusang Mayo Uno, Gabriela, BIEN and other allied organizations demanded Duterte’s conviction and called for the arrest of dela Rosa over extrajudicial deaths linked to the previous administration’s war on drugs.
Police personnel and traffic enforcers were deployed around the Senate complex to monitor the situation and manage crowds as both camps continued holding banners, speeches and protest actions.
