Amended rules now allow other senators to preside over impeachment trials

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate has amended the rules of impeachment that would allow another senator to be elected by a majority vote of members present as presiding officer of the impeachment court.

Senate Resolution No. 430 amended Rule II of the existing rules of procedure on impeachment trials, which explicitly states that the Senate president should preside in all other cases of impeachment, except when the president of the Philippines is on trial.

In the case of the president of the Philippines, the trial would be presided over by the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

The amended provision, as proposed in the resolution, still designates the Senate president as the presiding officer “unless the Senate, by a  majority vote of the members present, elects another senator as the presiding officer.” 

The resolution was adopted on the Senate floor on Wednesday with 12 senators in attendance, including Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who is allied with Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano’s bloc. 

The Senate has already convened as an impeachment court with Cayetano as its presiding officer.

The court was set to start its trial of the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte on July 6, 2026.

Since Monday, Cayetano’s group has stopped attending the session, following the arrest of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada for a non-bailable plunder case tied to the anomalous flood control projects scandal.

Cayetano’s continued refusal to convene the session prompted the 12 senators to open it on Wednesday with Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian as the presiding officer.

Gatchalian was later elected Senate president pro tempore, replacing  Loren Legarda.  

Several senators allied to Cayetano were also stripped of committee chairmanships, including the controversial blue ribbon committee, which will now be headed by Sen. Erwin Tulfo, replacing Sen. Rodante Marcoleta. /apl /atm