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De Lima Warns Senate: Start Sara Trial Or Face SC Case
Photo credit: Congress PH
ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima on Tuesday warned the Senate’s new leadership that it has no choice but to move forward with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying any refusal to convene could lead to a petition before the Supreme Court.
The warning came a day after the House of Representatives voted 257-25, with nine abstentions, to impeach Duterte and transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.
De Lima said the sudden leadership change in the Senate has raised questions about how the impeachment process will move forward. On Monday, Alan Peter Cayetano replaced Tito Sotto as Senate President after gaining the support of 13 senators.
According to De Lima, many are now questioning whether the leadership shake-up is tied to the impeachment case.
“Of course it happened because of the numbers na nakakuha sila ng 13. Now, hindi natin maiwasan magduda o mag-suspect na ‘yun ay may kinalaman sa impeachment, dahil alam naman nila na kahapon ‘yung voting dito sa House, at alam naman nila na may numero and it turned out to be really an overwhelming majority ng bumoto ng yes for the impeachment of the VP.”
She said the public deserves answers from the Senate’s new majority.
“So, they did that change of leadership. Ano pang ibig sabihin noon? Ano ho ba ang balak nila? Yun po ang tanong natin. Ano ho ba ang balak nila nung bagong majority sa proseso ng impeachment?”
De Lima stressed that the Constitution clearly requires the Senate to act once the impeachment articles are transmitted.
“Tatalakayin ba agad nila yung articles of impeachment once this are transmitted to the senate, kasi sa House ita-transmit kaagad ‘yan kung hindi nga ngayong araw bukas ita-transmit ‘yung articles, so yung i-accept ba kaagad nila ‘yan ‘yung articles of impeachment, they have to wala silang choice, magco-convene ba kaagad sila as an impeachment court again they have to wala na naman silang choice sa usapin na ‘yan kasi malinaw sa Constitution na trial shall forthwith proceed kapag nandoon sa kanila yung articles of impeachment.”
She clarified that the Senate does not need to immediately begin the actual trial, but it must formally convene as an impeachment court and begin the constitutional process.
“Pero at least gumagalaw ang Senado kapag ganyan ang gagawin nila, ang importante po at inaasahin natin ay magconvene kaagad sila at sumumpa na sila as senator judges para umusad na ang proseso, not necessarily trila proper but other preliminary processes.”
De Lima also warned that legal action could follow if the Senate majority refuses to convene.
“Kung hindi agad matuloy lalo na kung manaig ang majority na huwag na lang tayong mag-convene as an impeachment court, nandyan ang remedy ng petition for mandamus. Because the act of convening and conducting a trial is a ministerial duty, as can be seen from the Constitution. Wala silang option, wala silang discretion, prerogative o kapangyarihan na huwag itong gawin. So dapat gawin nila yan. And that would be the proper course of action, a petition for mandamus before the SC,” de Lima said.
She said refusing to convene could amount to a violation of the Senate’s constitutional duty.
“Pag hindi sila mag-convene, that would be in breach of their constitutional duty, so tingnan natin kung anong puwedeng mga steps kung ano ‘yung puwedeng maging hakbang para sila rin ang mapanagot.”
De Lima explained that a petition for mandamus would ask the Supreme Court to compel the Senate to fulfill its constitutional obligation.
“Well, a petition for mandamus…iko-compel lang sila to convene as an impeachment court. Iyon po ang ibig sabihin ng petition for mandamus.”
Despite the political tensions, De Lima said she still hopes the Senate will follow the Constitution and allow the impeachment proceedings to move forward.
“So umaasa pa rin tayo na gagawin ng Senado, kahit mayroong pagbabago ng liderato, na gagawin ng Senado na ayon lahat sa Saligang Batas, yung usapin ng pananagutan o pagpapanagot.”
The warning came a day after the House of Representatives voted 257-25, with nine abstentions, to impeach Duterte and transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate.
De Lima said the sudden leadership change in the Senate has raised questions about how the impeachment process will move forward. On Monday, Alan Peter Cayetano replaced Tito Sotto as Senate President after gaining the support of 13 senators.
According to De Lima, many are now questioning whether the leadership shake-up is tied to the impeachment case.
“Of course it happened because of the numbers na nakakuha sila ng 13. Now, hindi natin maiwasan magduda o mag-suspect na ‘yun ay may kinalaman sa impeachment, dahil alam naman nila na kahapon ‘yung voting dito sa House, at alam naman nila na may numero and it turned out to be really an overwhelming majority ng bumoto ng yes for the impeachment of the VP.”
She said the public deserves answers from the Senate’s new majority.
“So, they did that change of leadership. Ano pang ibig sabihin noon? Ano ho ba ang balak nila? Yun po ang tanong natin. Ano ho ba ang balak nila nung bagong majority sa proseso ng impeachment?”
De Lima stressed that the Constitution clearly requires the Senate to act once the impeachment articles are transmitted.
“Tatalakayin ba agad nila yung articles of impeachment once this are transmitted to the senate, kasi sa House ita-transmit kaagad ‘yan kung hindi nga ngayong araw bukas ita-transmit ‘yung articles, so yung i-accept ba kaagad nila ‘yan ‘yung articles of impeachment, they have to wala silang choice, magco-convene ba kaagad sila as an impeachment court again they have to wala na naman silang choice sa usapin na ‘yan kasi malinaw sa Constitution na trial shall forthwith proceed kapag nandoon sa kanila yung articles of impeachment.”
She clarified that the Senate does not need to immediately begin the actual trial, but it must formally convene as an impeachment court and begin the constitutional process.
“Pero at least gumagalaw ang Senado kapag ganyan ang gagawin nila, ang importante po at inaasahin natin ay magconvene kaagad sila at sumumpa na sila as senator judges para umusad na ang proseso, not necessarily trila proper but other preliminary processes.”
De Lima also warned that legal action could follow if the Senate majority refuses to convene.
“Kung hindi agad matuloy lalo na kung manaig ang majority na huwag na lang tayong mag-convene as an impeachment court, nandyan ang remedy ng petition for mandamus. Because the act of convening and conducting a trial is a ministerial duty, as can be seen from the Constitution. Wala silang option, wala silang discretion, prerogative o kapangyarihan na huwag itong gawin. So dapat gawin nila yan. And that would be the proper course of action, a petition for mandamus before the SC,” de Lima said.
She said refusing to convene could amount to a violation of the Senate’s constitutional duty.
“Pag hindi sila mag-convene, that would be in breach of their constitutional duty, so tingnan natin kung anong puwedeng mga steps kung ano ‘yung puwedeng maging hakbang para sila rin ang mapanagot.”
De Lima explained that a petition for mandamus would ask the Supreme Court to compel the Senate to fulfill its constitutional obligation.
“Well, a petition for mandamus…iko-compel lang sila to convene as an impeachment court. Iyon po ang ibig sabihin ng petition for mandamus.”
Despite the political tensions, De Lima said she still hopes the Senate will follow the Constitution and allow the impeachment proceedings to move forward.
“So umaasa pa rin tayo na gagawin ng Senado, kahit mayroong pagbabago ng liderato, na gagawin ng Senado na ayon lahat sa Saligang Batas, yung usapin ng pananagutan o pagpapanagot.”
May 12, 2026
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