The Senate will formally begin the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte next week, after Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced on Thursday that senators are expected to convene as an impeachment court on Monday, May 18, 2026.
In a letter addressed to House Speaker Faustino Dy III, Cayetano stated that the Senate has taken proper order of the impeachment complaint and will proceed with the process in accordance with the Constitution and the Senate's impeachment rules.
"The Secretariat has been directed to include the Articles of Impeachment in the Calendar for Ordinary Business for referral to the Impeachment Court, which shall be convened on 18 May 2026, 3 p.m., or at the possible soonest time," the letter stated.
Cayetano noted that the majority bloc in the Senate sees no reason to amend the current impeachment rules, warning that any changes could delay the proceedings as they would need to be published.
"If everyone agrees on the rule, I do not see any reason why we cannot convene on Monday," he added.
Under the process outlined by Cayetano, senators will first convene as an impeachment court, after which he will take an oath as presiding officer, followed by the swearing in of the 23 senator-judges. After that, the Senate will issue a summons to the Vice President.
