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House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong welcomed the Senate’s move to formally convene as an impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte, calling it a positive sign that the proceedings are finally moving forward.

Adiong said the Senate leadership deserves credit for following through on its commitment to begin the impeachment process.

“We laud the Senate President and members of his majority for sticking to their word on the convening of the impeachment court. We expect that this is a portent of things to come,” Alonto Adiong, who chairs the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, said.

The lawmaker added that the actual impeachment trial should proceed soon, stressing that Duterte must be given the opportunity to answer the allegations raised against her by the House prosecution panel.

“After the preliminaries like compliance with the requirements of due process, the trial should get underway. And it should be free from politics, distraction and obstruction,” he said.

Adiong also pointed to the impeachment court’s deadlines as proof that due process is being observed. Under the Senate’s initial timetable, Duterte was ordered to respond to the impeachment complaint within a non-extendible 10-day period, while prosecutors were given five days to file a reply.

According to Adiong, these timelines show that the Senate is attempting to balance fairness with the need to avoid unnecessary delays.

“Though the Senate president announced that trial would be set at some future time after due process prerequisites are met, we hope there would be no delay in the trial. We are holding the Senate leadership and senator-judges to their word,” Alonto Adiong said.

The House leader also stressed that resolving the impeachment case quickly would help prevent prolonged political uncertainty and allow the country to move forward.

Adiong said the sooner the Senate impeachment court reaches a decision, the better it would be for the nation.