2026 May impeachment vote and drama in Congress

Filipinos should never forget what transpired in Congress, especially the Senate, starting May 11, 2026.

The most anticipated news at the start of this week was the House of Representatives’ vote related to the impeachment of Sara Duterte.

That Monday, the House did not disappoint.

In fact, Filipinos were happily surprised to know that 259 representatives voted for impeachment, far more than the required 1/3 votes needed for impeachment on charges related to misuse of confidential funds/graft/betrayal of public trust.

That May 11 public jubilation over the House’s overwhelming impeachment verdict was quickly doused by the unexpected Senate leadership coup and the bigger drama - the appearance of absentee Senator Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa!

From the House of Representatives, the next step was to formally transmit the articles focused on corruption and constitutional violations to the Senate!

Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier announced that after the transmittal, the Senate will immediately proceed with the requirements of an impeachment trial

However, SP Sotto and nine other senators did not expect a leadership coup mounted by 13 other senators whose main agenda was later reported to be related to the VP impeachment.

Did the new majority stage the coup to support VP Duterte or to protect themselves from data-supported corruption charges?

Filipinos need to vigilantly guard against and demand accountability from those in the majority 13 included in alleged flood-control corruption charges in the partial report of the Blue Ribbon Committee, still two votes short of approval.

These subsequent revelations/questions related to the Senate drama…

Despite his bravado statement for former senator Trillanes to join the NBI team to personally serve the ICC arrest warrant, footage showed Bato racing to the Senate to elude being served the ICC warrant by NBI agents.

Footage of his running away from pursuing NBI agents went global.

Is it only in the Philippines that a former police chief has tried to elude an ICC warrant of arrest served to him?

Inside the Senate, a fuming/panting Bato slammed authorities for disrespecting a senator.

He asked for and was given Senate custody by newly-installed SP Cayetano and their teammates --the new majority 13!

The public witnessed Bato’s range of emotions since his dramatic return to the Senate.

He pleaded for justice, for government to protect him as a senator. Families and supporters of the EJK victims asked – was this karma for Bato, was he being made to feel what thousands of EJK victims experienced during his term as police chief under Duterte? Didn’t the EJK victims also plead for their lives to be spared, for justice to be served? Sadly, they were killed by Bato’s police who claimed self-defense.

A sleepless Bato was seen crying, saying “this was the worst day” for him.

Then he appealed to his supporters to gather and not allow him to be arrested and brought to Hague on the basis of the ICC warrant for him.

He also called on his PMA classmates, even singing the PMA hymn.

May 13, while the new majority 13 reported that they were waiting for the House articles to be transmitted to them that early evening, while reporters remained covering the Senate surprise leadership coup and Bato’s reappearance and custody, the next drama --the Cayetano-labeled “Senate Siege”-- unfolded.

Before the “siege”, reports were rife that the NBI would force and serve the warrant and arrest Bato that evening. That alleged pending arrest (categorically denied by NBI) led to heightened security/lockdown at the Senate.

Soon, gunshots were heard. The Senate sergeant-at-arms admitted he fired the first warning shot and reported that the NBI subsequently returned a warning shot.

Soon after the “Senate siege”, Bato leaves the Senate.

The Senate, Bato drama is still unfolding…