Senate may convene on May 4 for Duterte impeachment upon transmittal

This report is part of Inquirer’s special coverage of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment proceedings. For real-time updates, follow our live coverage of the impeachment.

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate may convene as an impeachment court as early as May 4 once the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte are transmitted from the House of Representatives, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said on Tuesday.

He made the statement in a press briefing a day before the third impeachment hearing at the House committee on justice.

“Technically, we may convene by May 4—that’s when we should resume. That’s just two weeks away,” Sotto said.

“By May 4, if we receive the articles of impeachment, then we will immediately convene as an impeachment court,” he added.

May 4 marks the resumption of Congress’s session.

Sotto also vowed once again that as Senate president, the impeachment will be acted upon “forthwith.”

“I will act on it with dispatch. Definitely forthwith. As soon as the Senate receives it, I will inform the Senate and refer it to the Committee on Rules,” he said.

Still, no timeline is certain as the proceedings are still in the House of Representatives.

“We have to wait for the decision of the House of Representatives on whether they find probable cause,” Sotto said.

READ: Luistro: Duterte-Carpio tax documents next up in impeachment

The House committee on justice is two hearings away from finding probable cause for the two impeachment complaints against the vice president.

Duterte has been accused of graft and corruption for the alleged misuse of confidential funds and betrayal of public trust, among others, in both complaints against her.

The House hearings have put under scrutiny Duterte’s use of her confidential funds as former Department of Education secretary and as the vice president, along with her supposed “unexplained” wealth and Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth.

Scheduled at the House on April 22 and 29 are the last two hearings before the justice panel reports its findings to the plenary.

The House may recommend the dismissal of the complaints; otherwise, the members shall vote on the transmittal of the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

READ: House panel eyes to end Duterte impeachment hearings by April 29

Transmission to the Senate will occur if one-third of the members of the House vote in favor of the procedure. 

The Senate will act as an impeachment court to decide on Duterte’s conviction or, alternatively, dismiss the case. /mcm