Philippine Senate Convenes as Impeachment Court to Hear Case Against VP Sara Duterte for Constitutional Violations

(CNA, Manila, by reporter Lim Heng-kim, May 18) The Philippine Senate formally converted into an impeachment court today to try the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, who is accused of constitutional violations, corruption, and betrayal of public trust. The House of Representatives formally sent the articles of impeachment and other related evidence and documents to the Senate on May 13. Today, the Senate converted into an impeachment court, with senators serving as judges to hear the case. According to the Senate's roll call, 23 out of 24 senators were present. Senator Ronald dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for his involvement in former President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs, was not present. After the senators donned their judicial robes, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano ordered a summons to be issued to Sara Duterte, requiring her to submit a response within 10 days. If she fails to respond within the deadline, the impeachment court can proceed with the trial. After Duterte's response, the 11-member prosecution team from the House will have five days to submit their reply. Sara Duterte faces impeachment charges of violating the constitution, corruption, and betrayal of public trust, stemming from allegations of misusing confidential funds, bribing government officials, making assassination threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and possessing unexplained wealth. According to a report by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, the establishment of the impeachment court does not mean the trial has formally begun. Before the formal trial, both the prosecution and defense must still submit written documents, and the court will also hold a pre-trial conference to confirm evidence and procedural arrangements. The outcome of Sara Duterte's impeachment trial could influence the direction of the 2028 presidential election and trigger a realignment of political forces in the Philippines, thus attracting significant attention. On the same day the House sent the articles of impeachment to the Senate, there was a sudden change in Senate leadership. The new Senate President, Alan Peter Cayetano, is seen as being closer to the Duterte family, but he has assured the public that the senators will judge based on evidence. This is the second consecutive year Sara Duterte has faced impeachment proceedings. Last year, after receiving the impeachment documents from the House, the Senate took four months to form an impeachment court, ultimately returning the case to the House on a technicality. A little over a month later, the Supreme Court also declared the impeachment process at that time unconstitutional. Meanwhile, due to a shooting incident at the Senate last week, the Philippine capital's police have deployed at least 900 officers around the Senate and set up barbed wire at the entrance to maintain order. (Editor: Tang Sheng-yang) 1150518