MANILA, Philippines — The upper chamber is bracing for a historic constitutional process amid shifting political alliances. Monday, May 18, 2026 the Senate has formally finalized preparations to convene as an impeachment court at 3:00 p.m. to try Vice President Sara Duterte, though intense structural realignments leave the final verdict highly uncertain.
Newly installed Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano issued an official directive to all offices in the upper house, requesting full attendance at the Session Hall and reminding legislators that all senator-judges are strictly enjoined to wear their traditional judicial robes to observe the solemnity of the proceedings.
Speaking ahead of the trial, Senator Erwin Tulfo assured the public that the Senate minority bloc stands fully prepared to proceed without hesitation, emphasizing that the legislature owes the public an orderly and highly transparent process:
- A Proper Forum: “She will be given the chance to defend herself in the proper forum. This is the proper forum as a court,” Tulfo stated in an interview with radio dzBB. He noted that the trial provides the Vice President a platform to directly answer the allegations. “The entire country, whether it’s DDS or the opposition, they want to hear that.”
- Guarding Against Delays: Tulfo added that minority lawmakers would actively question any institutional maneuvers aimed at stalling or blocking the formal convening of the court, stating he is entirely willing to wait until midnight if necessary to ensure the Senate successfully transitions into its judicial role.
The trial arrives just one week after a swift, aggressive leadership shakeup transformed the upper chamber’s dynamic. On May 11, 2026, a newly formed Senate majority effectively ousted former Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, replacing him with Alan Peter Cayetano.
Civic activist groups and legal experts have raised concerns over whether this reorganization—orchestrated largely by lawmakers allied with the Vice President—was designed to soften the institutional ground ahead of the trial.
The immediate vote lines reveal a heavily fractured chamber:
- The Minority Bloc (9 Votes): Backing the pushed trial and aligned with Sotto are Senators Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Sherwin Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Manuel Lapid, and Francis Pangilinan.
- The New Majority Bloc: Lawmakers who orchestrated the leadership change include Senators Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Christopher “Bong” Go, Robinhood Padilla, Rodante Marcoleta, Jinggoy Estrada, Joel Villanueva, Francis Escudero, Mark Villar, Camille Villar, Loren Legarda, and Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
- Abstentions: Senators Joseph Victor Ejercito and Juan Miguel Zubiri abstained from the leadership vote.
Despite the underlying political friction, legislative leaders emphasize that the mechanisms of the trial are structurally sound. Senate Accounts Committee Chairman Panfilo “Ping” Lacson previously confirmed that the chamber is fully funded for the task, with roughly ₱26.5 million remaining from a continuing 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA) allocation specifically earmarked for impeachment proceedings.
Simultaneously, the House of Representatives’ 11-person prosecution panel, led by Rep. Gerville Luistro and featuring key lawmakers like Rep. Terry Ridon and Rep. Joel Chua, confirmed they will be physically present at the Senate to witness the formal convening.
While civil groups hold demonstrations outside the legislative complex calling for absolute accountability and an uncompromised judicial process, Senate leadership maintains that the upper house will fully fulfill its constitutional mandate to deliver a thorough, evidence-based assessment of the cases brought against the Vice President.