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Advocates Philippines
Aquino: Senate Must Hold Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial
Photo credit: Ranhilio Callangan Aquino
A former law dean and constitutional expert said the Senate is now duty-bound to begin an impeachment trial after the House of Representatives formally transmitted the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Fr. Ranhilio Aquino said the Constitution clearly requires senators to convene as an impeachment court once the complaint has been approved by at least one-third of the House.
“Very clearly, the intendment of the Constitution is to mandate the Senate, once the articles of impeachment have been sent to it by at least one-third of the membership of the lower house, to proceed to trial,” Aquino said.
The House voted 257-25, with nine abstentions, to impeach Duterte through Committee Report No. 261 endorsed by the House justice committee led by Batangas Rep. Jerville Luistro.
The impeachment complaint includes allegations involving unexplained wealth, misuse of confidential funds, discrepancies in declared assets, and an alleged death threat against President Bongbong Marcos.
The vote went beyond the one-third constitutional requirement needed to elevate the case to the Senate for trial.
Aquino explained that Section 3, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution makes impeachment and Senate trial the official process for holding top government officials accountable.
He stressed that lawmakers cannot simply ignore or stop the proceedings once the impeachment articles have been transmitted.
“What the two sub-paragraphs require is the same thing: that at least one-third of the membership of the House vote in favor of or file the articles of impeachment. Very clearly, the intendment of the Constitution is to mandate the Senate, once the articles of impeachment have been sent to it by at least one-third of the membership of the lower house, to proceed to trial,” Aquino said.
According to Aquino, the Senate’s role is not to shield officials from accountability but to hear the case and decide based on evidence.
“It is not one of the powers of the Senate to condone wrong. It is its power to try—and to acquit when evidence is wanting, as it is its bounden duty to convict when evidence is clear and convincing,” he said.
Aquino also pointed to the Constitution’s declaration that public office is a public trust, saying all public officials are expected to remain accountable to the people and serve with integrity, responsibility, and justice.
Fr. Ranhilio Aquino said the Constitution clearly requires senators to convene as an impeachment court once the complaint has been approved by at least one-third of the House.
“Very clearly, the intendment of the Constitution is to mandate the Senate, once the articles of impeachment have been sent to it by at least one-third of the membership of the lower house, to proceed to trial,” Aquino said.
The House voted 257-25, with nine abstentions, to impeach Duterte through Committee Report No. 261 endorsed by the House justice committee led by Batangas Rep. Jerville Luistro.
The impeachment complaint includes allegations involving unexplained wealth, misuse of confidential funds, discrepancies in declared assets, and an alleged death threat against President Bongbong Marcos.
The vote went beyond the one-third constitutional requirement needed to elevate the case to the Senate for trial.
Aquino explained that Section 3, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution makes impeachment and Senate trial the official process for holding top government officials accountable.
He stressed that lawmakers cannot simply ignore or stop the proceedings once the impeachment articles have been transmitted.
“What the two sub-paragraphs require is the same thing: that at least one-third of the membership of the House vote in favor of or file the articles of impeachment. Very clearly, the intendment of the Constitution is to mandate the Senate, once the articles of impeachment have been sent to it by at least one-third of the membership of the lower house, to proceed to trial,” Aquino said.
According to Aquino, the Senate’s role is not to shield officials from accountability but to hear the case and decide based on evidence.
“It is not one of the powers of the Senate to condone wrong. It is its power to try—and to acquit when evidence is wanting, as it is its bounden duty to convict when evidence is clear and convincing,” he said.
Aquino also pointed to the Constitution’s declaration that public office is a public trust, saying all public officials are expected to remain accountable to the people and serve with integrity, responsibility, and justice.
May 12, 2026
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