Hontiveros to Escudero: Swear in new senator-judges, ‘it’s already allowed’

Senate President Francis Escudero takes oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial on Monday, June 9, 2025. (Photo by CHARIE ABARCA)

MANILA, Philippines — The new members of the Senate should now take their oaths as senator-judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros said on Monday.

At 12:01 p.m., 12 senators will start their fresh six-year term in the Senate, including the five reelected senators — Christopher “Bong” Go, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Imee Marcos, Lito Lapid and Pia Cayetano.

The seven others are returning senators Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, Vicente “Tito” Sotto III,  Panfilo Lacson, and Bam Aquino; and former House members — Camille Villar, Erwin Tulfo and Rodante Marcoleta.

“I’m making this call now since we’re discussing it—just a reminder—that anytime from 12:01 p.m. onwards today, it’s already allowed, and I hope the presiding officer will swear in the remaining twelve newly elected senators,” Hontiveros said in a press briefing.

This can be done, according to the senator, since the  impeachment court, which convened on June 10, is still in session.

“So, at any time, the presiding officer can call in all twelve, or one by one. The Senate impeachment rules say as they arrive,” she pointed out.

In fact, Hontiveros said, the Senate impeachment court can also convene anytime now without waiting for the opening of the 20th Congress on July 28.

“But alright, if it’s on the 29th, what’s important is that we continue sitting as a court and working on the impeachment trial,” she noted.

Contrary to what others say, Hontiveros insisted that the impeachment trial of Duterte is “alive and ongoing” as proven by Duterte’s filing of the answer ad cautelam and the House prosecutors’ response to it.

She also maintained that the case against Duterte could not be dismissed outright by a simple motion even at the start of the trial.

As senator-judges, she said they have the duty to conduct the trial before voting to either convict or acquit the vice president.

“And for us to be able to eventually vote—whether to convict or acquit—we need to hear the evidence for each article of impeachment. We need to examine and listen to every witness for each article,” Hontiveros said.

Dela Rosa, a known ally of Duterte, moved for the dismissal of the case against the vice president immediately after the impeachment court was convened on June 10.

But Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano amended dela Rosa’s motion, and instead moved to return the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte to the House of Representatives.

Cayetano believes the House must first issue a certification stating that it did not violate the one-year ban on the filing of impeachment cases.

He also wanted a commitment from the House members in the 20th Congress that they will pursue the case against Duterte.

The House prosecution panel already complied with the first requirement, when it submitted a certification to the impeachment court last week affirming the validity of its complaint against the vice president. /apl

NOTE: The English translations in the article were AI-generated.