Photo credit: Congress PH

Renee Co of the Kabataan Party-list and the Makabayan bloc is urging Filipinos to closely monitor the Senate in the coming days as the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte move forward.

Speaking during the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Co said public attention should now focus on whether the Senate will strictly follow the Constitution and immediately proceed with the impeachment process after the Articles of Impeachment were transmitted by the House of Representatives.

“Ang dapat nating tutukan sa mga magdadaang mga araw” is how the Senate will process the articles of impeachment, she said, following the announcement of Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano that the chamber would convene as an impeachment court on Monday.

Co explained that under impeachment rules, both the prosecution panel and the respondent are first given time to exchange pleadings before pre-trial and the actual trial proper can begin.

“Procedurally, mayroon mga ilang araw na ibibigay natin sa prosecution at respondents para magpalitan ng answer and reply. That will take 15 days, after which may pre-trial then saka lang sasalang sa trial proper,” Co said.

“So several days ‘yun before maaasahan natin yung araw-araw na trial hearings,” she added.

Still, the lawmaker emphasized that the Senate is constitutionally required to act on the impeachment complaint “forthwith,” warning against delays that could stall the proceedings.

“Pag sinabing forthwith, it means immediately. Hindi dapat may delay at ipahintay ng ilang araw or even ilang buwan,” she said.

Co recalled that previous impeachment proceedings in Congress experienced months-long delays before formally moving forward, saying the public should guard against a repeat of that situation.

“And therefore, again, we invoke the phrase: ‘justice delayed is justice denied’,” she said.

The impeachment case against Duterte has become one of the most politically charged issues in recent months, especially after major shifts in Senate leadership and alliances. Co noted that the new Senate majority has largely aligned itself with the vice president, with some senators already publicly questioning or dismissing the allegations against her even before trial proceedings begin.

“Maaasahan natin na may ganyan lalo na nagbago ang liderato ng Senado at ito ang isa sa makikita nating contentious issues na pagdedebatehan nila on the floor,” she said.

Despite political tensions, Co stressed that the constitutional process must be respected and completed without bending existing laws or Senate rules.

“Ang sa atin naman, nagsimula na tayo ng proseso, galangin hanggang dulo. At mangyari ‘yung bawat step of the process in a way na hindi binabali at binabaliktad ang batas at ‘yung regulasyon,” she said.

She also called on the public to actively follow the impeachment trial, saying citizen participation and scrutiny could pressure senator-judges to remain politically neutral throughout the proceedings.

“Ang isang paraan na lang din para ma-ensure na ang mga senador natin ay totoong ie-exhibit ang political neutrality ay kung active participants din ang mamamayan sa proseso,” Co said.

“So ipaalam ng mamamayan anong saloobin at pagtingin nila doon sa ilang manipestasyon, tanong, o magiging sagot ng mga members ng ating impeachment court,” she added.

The impeachment complaint against Duterte stems from several allegations, including the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds, unexplained wealth tied to billions in reported bank transactions, bribery accusations, and grave threats. The Commission on Audit had earlier flagged issues related to confidential fund spending, which became one of the major triggers of congressional investigations earlier this year.

Co argued that the case directly affects taxpayers, especially if findings eventually show that public funds were improperly spent.

“May direct benefit na maaasahan tayo dahil may pinaguusapan tayong pera na according to COA, mali ang paggasta at dapat ibalik,” she said.

“So kung susundin natin ang kabuuan proseso at makita natin ang findings sa dulo nito na oo mali yung paggasta, ganyan, kailangan may opisyal na matanggal sa pwesto bilang pananagutan, magfofollow through ‘yan until maibalik ‘yan at magamit ng taongbayan,” she added.

According to Co, holding officials accountable through impeachment could also send a stronger message against corruption and improve the use of public funds for social services.

“At yung ehemplong na ‘yun na gagamit natin sa iba’t ibang nakikita natin paraan ng korapsyon, dudulo yan sa dapat mas maayos na paggasta ng pera at mas magandang paglaan ng pondo sa benepisyong dapat pinopondohan—edukasyon, kalusugan at iba pa,” she said.

“So may direct benefit, may direct stake ang mamamayan dito sa impeachment na dapat suportahan natin ang maayos na paggulong ng proseso na ito,” she added.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on May 11 after 257 lawmakers voted in favor of transmitting the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate. Twenty-five lawmakers voted against the move while nine abstained.

Under the Constitution, at least 16 senators must vote to convict Duterte for her to be removed from office.