VP impeach court convenes May 18

MANILA, Philippines —  The Senate impeachment court will convene next Monday to hear the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced.

In a press briefing yesterday, Cayetano vowed there would be no delays when the court convenes on May 18 at 3 p.m., “or at the possible soonest time, absent any question on the rules and procedure related to the transmitted articles.”

Cayetano vowed that none of the 13 new majority senators would question the convening of the impeachment court.

He said the first day of the convening would be for the issuance of summons. He clarified that proceeding to trial “forthwith” as stated in the 1987 Constitution can only happen once the number of days for the issuances of summons and replies are complied with.

Cayetano said he is more concerned with balancing the impeachment proceedings with their regular legislative work of conducting committee hearings and passing bills.

“The biggest issue for me is the balancing between (the impeachment trial and) the legislative work,” Cayetano said. “Once you convene and issue the summons, it proceeds.”

Vice President Duterte will let her 16-man legal team to do their job after the House of Representatives transmitted to the Senate the Articles of Impeachment against her.

“We have a defense team, the impeachment defense team, who takes care of the issues and concerns regarding the impeachment. So, I leave it up to the lawyers to do their work,” Duterte said in an interview in The Hague, Netherlands.

House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil delivered the articles at about 7:20 p.m., and received by Senate Secretary Mark Mendoza.

Multiple shots were fired by officers of the Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms, accompanied by armed Philippine Marines. Minutes after the shooting, at about 8 p.m., OSAA members allowed House contingents to deliver the boxes containing the Articles of Impeachment.

Biz groups urge fair, transparent trial

Business groups and civic organizations yesterday urged the Senate to fulfill their duty and immediately convene the impeachment court for the trial of the Vice President to promote economic stability and investor confidence.

“We, the undersigned organizations, respectfully call on the Senate of the Philippines to fulfill its constitutional duty to convene as an Impeachment Court and conduct a fair, impartial and transparent trial based on the evidence and the law,” the groups said.

Those that signed the statement are the Management Association of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, Justice Reform Initiative, Alliance of Women for Action Towards Reform, AYC Consultants (formerly Wallace Business Forum), Federation of Philippine Industries, Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines, Movement for Restoration of Peace and Order, Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, Shareholders’ Association of the Philippines and Sy & Partners Law. Citing the 1987 Constitution, the groups said that the Senate has a duty to try and decide the case once the House exercises its exclusive power to impeach.

The groups said that convening the impeachment court is a constitutional obligation and not a discretionary political choice.

As such, the groups said that refusal to convene the impeachment court or any attempt to dismiss the case without hearing the evidence will undermine the rule of law and weaken the trust in the Senate.

“For the business community, the implications are significant. Economic stability, investment and long-term growth depend on credible institutions and consistent adherence to constitutional processes,” the groups said.

“When the rule of law appears subordinate to political interests, investor confidence and institutional credibility suffer,” the groups added.

The groups urged senators to uphold their sworn duty to the Constitution by convening the impeachment court without delay and ensuring a fair and credible trial.

“The legitimacy of democratic institutions rests on their consistent fidelity to constitutional mandates, especially under conditions of political pressure,” the groups said.

The change of leadership in the Senate may be a clear devious plan to delay the impeachment trial, according to Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas.

He also expressed his concern over the change of leadership in the Senate that would soon convene as an impeachment court and hold trial against Duterte.

“The sudden change in the leadership of the Senate, mandated by law to try the impeachment case, is like a graffiti on the wall showing another devious plan to delay the trial,” Villegas said in a two-page pastoral letter yesterday, which would be read as homily in all parishes in the archdiocese on Sunday.

“It was not for the country but for ‘somebody.’ It is obscene. It is unbelievable that men and women called ‘honorable’ could do such a brazen exercise of power,” added Villegas, previous president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

A Senate coup took place last May 11 with Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano replacing Sen. Vicente Sotto III as Senate president. Among those who voted for Cayetano was Sen. Ronald dela Rosa who resurfaced at the Senate after six months in hiding.

The Lingayen-Dagupan prelate also said that “The Senate is now used as a shield for a suspect-at-large with a valid warrant of arrest from a lawful court.”

Villegas said these political developments took place while the country continued to face a worsening corruption problem.

The latest OCTA Research Q1 2026 Tugon ng Masa survey showing a hypothetical Leni Robredo–Raffy Tulfo tandem (44 percent) beating a possible Sara Duterte–Imee Marcos ticket (40 percent) in 2028 only shows the growing public backlash against Duterte’s continued refusal to confront issues against her, according to Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre. –  Louella Desiderio, Evelyn Macairan, Delon Porcalla