Erin Devanadera

The Supreme Court (SC) requested the Philippine Senate to urgently convene as a court of impeachment for Vice President Sara Duterte on February 15, signaling the need for the trial to be initiated.

Photo Courtesy of AFP.

Former Presidential Commission on Good Government special government counsel and lawyer Catalino Generrilo Jr. has called for the immediate action of the Senate regarding the impeachment of Duterte.

He also stated that the obtainment of the order, preceded by the House of Representatives, is obliged at once to try the Vice President in trial finally.

"In the final analysis, the Constitution does not allow the Senate to procrastinate during the period it is on recess whether it shall constitute itself into a[n] impeachment court and try the Vice President. If it were so, the framers of the Constitution wrote a useless provision. Woe to the so-called doctrine of supremacy of the Constitution," said Generrilo.

Generrilo also cited Article XI, Section 3 of the Philippine Constitution in support of his statement, which emphasizes the urgency of following impeachment measures from court orders.

"In case the verified complaint or resolution of all Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed,” added Generrilo.

The Supreme Court has additionally notified Senate President Francis Escudero, who previously spoke about the impeachment order and request with Congress on February 10, 2025.

“Most likely when the new Congress already enters into its functions. That means after SONA.

So I think SONA is on July 21. So trial will commence after that date,” said Escudero during a press briefing with the media on the same day.

“I have already said I have no intention of requesting the President for a special session.

Hindi ito isa sa mga bagay na dahilan para magpatawag ng special session ang Senado (This is not one of the things where the Senate should call for a special session),” he continued.

Duterte, who was formally impeached on February 5, 2025, had received a total impeachment vote of 215 out of 306 House members, which surpassed the average number of complaints for a Senate trial.