Senate convenes as impeachment court, sends summons to VP Sara

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

IMPEACHMENT COURT. Senators in red robes take their oath as senator-judges on Monday (May 18, 2026), as the Senate convened as an impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. The chamber’s action came after the House of Representatives transmitted the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte to the Senate last week. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – The Senate on Monday formally convened as an impeachment court and ordered the issuance of a writ of summons to Vice President Sara Duterte, setting in motion the chamber’s constitutional duty to hear the Articles of Impeachment filed against her.

Acting Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva informed the plenary that the House of Representatives, through Secretary General Cheloy Garafil, personally delivered to the Senate the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte.

Villanueva said the transmittal was made pursuant to Article XI, Section 3, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution and Rule IV, Section 11 of the House rules on impeachment proceedings.

“Earlier today, the Articles of Impeachment were referred to the Committee on Rules and consequently to the Senate sitting as an impeachment court,” Villanueva said.

He then formally presented the Articles of Impeachment and their annexes to the court “for proper disposition and action.”

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, presiding over the impeachment court, said Senate Resolution No. 39, or the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trial, would continue to apply, including the supplementary application of the Rules of the Senate and the revised Rules of Court when applicable.

“The court having been organized, and the Articles of Impeachment having been presented, let a writ of summons be issued to the Vice President, Sara Zimmerman Duterte,” Cayetano said.

He directed Duterte to file her answer within a non-extendable period of 10 days from receipt of the summons.

Pursuant to Article VII of the impeachment trial rules, Cayetano also directed Duterte to appear before the Senate session hall “upon notice.”

The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms was ordered to serve the written summons on the Vice President, together with a copy of the Articles of Impeachment.

Cayetano said the prosecution may file its reply within a non-extendable period of five days from receipt of Duterte’s answer.

He also said parties may file pleadings and annexes in person or through electronic mail, while other pleadings, motions and similar papers intended for the consideration of the impeachment court may be filed electronically.

The Senate President said specific instructions on the format and manner of electronic filing would be circulated for the guidance of all parties