PASAY CITY, Philippines — Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano has officially announced that the Senate will convene as an impeachment court on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. to try the case against Vice President Sara Duterte, the date was set following the formal transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives.
The move marks the beginning of only the fourth impeachment trial in Philippine history, as the Senate transitions into a judicial body to hear charges of corruption and constitutional violations against the sitting Vice President.
The transformation of the upper chamber into a trial court involves several strict constitutional and procedural steps:
- Formal Transmittal: The House of Representatives transmitted the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate on Wednesday night, May 13, following a 257-25-9 vote for impeachment.
- The Oath-Taking: On Monday, Cayetano will first take his oath as the Presiding Officer of the impeachment court. Subsequently, the remaining 23 senators will be sworn in as Senator-Judges.
- Issuance of Summons: Once convened, the court’s first official act will be to issue a summons to Vice President Duterte, requiring her to file a formal response to the charges within a specified timeframe.
- The Rules: Cayetano stated the body would likely adopt existing Senate Rules of Procedure on Impeachment, declaring, “Whatever rules were good for those who were impeached in the past, are also good for us now.”
While the House originally debated numerous allegations, the final Articles of Impeachment transmitted to the Senate are reportedly focused on four primary grounds:
- Corruption & Unexplained Wealth: Allegations involving Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) documents.
- Misuse of Confidential Funds: Based on findings and audit observations from the Commission on Audit (COA).
- Constitutional Violations: Related to the unauthorized transfer of funds.
- Betrayal of Public Trust: A “catch-all” charge involving the Vice President’s alleged failure to uphold the duties of her office.
The convening comes at a time of extreme volatility within the Senate. Cayetano set the date as the chamber emerged from a “bloody Wednesday” involving a shooting incident on Senate grounds and the disappearance of Senator Bato Dela Rosa, who had been seeking sanctuary from an ICC arrest warrant.
Despite these distractions, Cayetano assured that there would be no delays in the proceedings. “You judge us by our actions,” he told reporters, emphasizing that the Senate would fulfill its constitutional duty regardless of the internal leadership shifts.
To remove the Vice President from office, the prosecution must secure a two-thirds vote of the Senate.
- Total Senators: 24
- Votes Needed to Convict: 16
- The Jury: The 24 senators act as both the judge and the jury, deciding both matters of law and fact.