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Advocates Philippines
Senate Officially Opens VP Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial
Photo credit: Senate PH
The Senate of the Philippines formally convened as an impeachment court on Monday and ordered the issuance of a writ of summons to Vice President Sara Duterte, officially kickstarting the impeachment proceedings against her.
Acting Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva told the plenary that the House of Representatives, through Secretary General Cheloy Garafil, personally transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate earlier in the day.
According to Villanueva, the transmittal followed the constitutional provisions and House impeachment rules governing the process.
Presiding over the impeachment court, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said the Senate would use its existing Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trial, along with applicable Senate rules and court procedures.
Cayetano then directed the issuance of a writ of summons ordering Duterte to respond to the impeachment complaint within 10 days upon receiving the notice, with no extension allowed.
The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms was tasked to personally serve the summons and provide Duterte with a copy of the Articles of Impeachment.
Under the impeachment rules, the prosecution panel will have five days to submit a reply once Duterte files her answer.
Cayetano also said pleadings and motions may now be filed electronically, with detailed guidelines on the filing process set to be released to all parties involved.
The move officially sets in motion one of the country’s most closely watched political proceedings, with the Senate now preparing to hear the impeachment case against the sitting Vice President.
Acting Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva told the plenary that the House of Representatives, through Secretary General Cheloy Garafil, personally transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate earlier in the day.
According to Villanueva, the transmittal followed the constitutional provisions and House impeachment rules governing the process.
Presiding over the impeachment court, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said the Senate would use its existing Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trial, along with applicable Senate rules and court procedures.
Cayetano then directed the issuance of a writ of summons ordering Duterte to respond to the impeachment complaint within 10 days upon receiving the notice, with no extension allowed.
The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms was tasked to personally serve the summons and provide Duterte with a copy of the Articles of Impeachment.
Under the impeachment rules, the prosecution panel will have five days to submit a reply once Duterte files her answer.
Cayetano also said pleadings and motions may now be filed electronically, with detailed guidelines on the filing process set to be released to all parties involved.
The move officially sets in motion one of the country’s most closely watched political proceedings, with the Senate now preparing to hear the impeachment case against the sitting Vice President.
May 18, 2026
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