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Adiong Warns Senate Against Killing Sara Impeachment Trial On Technicality
Photo credit: Congress PH
Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong on Friday called on senators to allow the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte to proceed to a full trial, warning against any attempt to dismiss or derail the proceedings through technicalities before evidence is presented in open court.
Adiong, who chairs the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms and also serves as an Assistant Majority Leader, expressed concern over growing discussions that the Senate could entertain procedural moves that may stop the impeachment case before trial even begins.
His statement came after Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano sent a May 14 letter to Speaker Faustino Dy III confirming that the impeachment court would be convened, but without giving a clear commitment on when the actual trial and presentation of evidence would start.
“The constitutional duty of the Senate is to proceed to trial and receive evidence before rendering judgment,” Adiong said, warning that prematurely dismissing or remanding the case back to the House would be a serious disservice to the public.
According to Adiong, merely convening the impeachment court is only the first step of the Senate’s constitutional obligation. He stressed that the real measure of accountability is whether both the prosecution and defense will be allowed to present evidence before senators decide on the case.
The House of Representatives earlier voted 257-25-9 in favor of transmitting the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte to the Senate, comfortably surpassing the one-third constitutional requirement.
The impeachment complaint includes allegations involving the supposed misuse and liquidation of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, alleged bribery involving education officials, and alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez.
Adiong also pointed to a line in Cayetano’s letter stating that the impeachment court would convene “absent any question on the rules and procedure relating to the transmitted Articles,” saying this raised concerns that procedural challenges could be used to prevent the Senate from tackling the substance of the allegations.
“The Senate should not entertain a motion to dismiss without a hearing,” Adiong stressed, adding that any objections should be addressed through proper proceedings rather than being used to block the trial entirely.
He further emphasized that the Constitution clearly grants the House the sole power to impeach while assigning the Senate the responsibility to try and decide impeachment cases.
Adiong said the public deserves to see whether the accusations against Duterte can be proven or disproven in a transparent proceeding, especially since the Vice President’s camp has repeatedly claimed readiness to answer the allegations in the proper forum.
The lawmaker also warned that any attempt to dismiss or remand the case without hearing evidence could fuel public suspicion that recent leadership changes in the Senate were meant to weaken accountability efforts.
“At this point, the Senate must be very careful because the country is watching,” Adiong said. “They should not convene merely to stop the trial, but to begin it.”
He ended his appeal by urging Senate leaders and the majority bloc to publicly commit to hearing the case fully and ensuring that the impeachment proceedings will not be buried through procedural maneuvers before trial starts.
Adiong, who chairs the House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms and also serves as an Assistant Majority Leader, expressed concern over growing discussions that the Senate could entertain procedural moves that may stop the impeachment case before trial even begins.
His statement came after Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano sent a May 14 letter to Speaker Faustino Dy III confirming that the impeachment court would be convened, but without giving a clear commitment on when the actual trial and presentation of evidence would start.
“The constitutional duty of the Senate is to proceed to trial and receive evidence before rendering judgment,” Adiong said, warning that prematurely dismissing or remanding the case back to the House would be a serious disservice to the public.
According to Adiong, merely convening the impeachment court is only the first step of the Senate’s constitutional obligation. He stressed that the real measure of accountability is whether both the prosecution and defense will be allowed to present evidence before senators decide on the case.
The House of Representatives earlier voted 257-25-9 in favor of transmitting the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte to the Senate, comfortably surpassing the one-third constitutional requirement.
The impeachment complaint includes allegations involving the supposed misuse and liquidation of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, alleged bribery involving education officials, and alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez.
Adiong also pointed to a line in Cayetano’s letter stating that the impeachment court would convene “absent any question on the rules and procedure relating to the transmitted Articles,” saying this raised concerns that procedural challenges could be used to prevent the Senate from tackling the substance of the allegations.
“The Senate should not entertain a motion to dismiss without a hearing,” Adiong stressed, adding that any objections should be addressed through proper proceedings rather than being used to block the trial entirely.
He further emphasized that the Constitution clearly grants the House the sole power to impeach while assigning the Senate the responsibility to try and decide impeachment cases.
Adiong said the public deserves to see whether the accusations against Duterte can be proven or disproven in a transparent proceeding, especially since the Vice President’s camp has repeatedly claimed readiness to answer the allegations in the proper forum.
The lawmaker also warned that any attempt to dismiss or remand the case without hearing evidence could fuel public suspicion that recent leadership changes in the Senate were meant to weaken accountability efforts.
“At this point, the Senate must be very careful because the country is watching,” Adiong said. “They should not convene merely to stop the trial, but to begin it.”
He ended his appeal by urging Senate leaders and the majority bloc to publicly commit to hearing the case fully and ensuring that the impeachment proceedings will not be buried through procedural maneuvers before trial starts.
May 15, 2026
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