Adi Joaquim Tolentino

The Senate minority bloc on June 9 urged the chamber to immediately convene as an impeachment court to try Vice President Sara Duterte, denouncing the four-month delay as a violation of constitutional duty.

Photo Courtesy of AP Photo/Senate of the Philippines.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III filed a formal motion on the floor, warning that the Senate’s continued inaction since February has eroded public trust and sparked fears of political interference.

“There is no debate here. The duty is mandatory,” he said.

He cited the 1987 Constitution, which mandates the Senate to “forthwith proceed” with trial upon receiving the articles of impeachment from the House.

“The word ‘forthwith’ means without delay, agad-agad. There is no ‘if,’ no ‘unless,’ no ‘when convenient,’" Pimentel said.

Pimentel said several legal institutions, including top law schools and retired justices, had emphasized the urgency of compliance with this constitutional command.

“Respected academic institutions and legal organizations have spoken with one voice: the Senate must comply with its constitutional duty to ‘forthwith proceed’ with the impeachment trial,” he stated.

He pointed out that the Senate had already lost four months without valid justification and stressed that the chamber cannot simply ignore the process.

“The reputation and dignity of this institution we hold so dear, painstakingly built up by the many senators who have served before us, together with our own efforts, are now being attacked online and in the real world out there,” Pimentel said.

“We had a choice every step of the way — and our choice was to delay,” he said.
Pimentel also argued that impeachment trials are non-legislative functions and can proceed even outside regular sessions, citing a Supreme Court ruling in his favor.

“There is no constitutional requirement that impeachment trials can only happen when Congress is in session. The Senate’s authority comes directly from Article XI,” he said, citing the Supreme Court ruling in Pimentel v. Joint Committee of Congress.

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros seconded the motion and called on the Senate President to take his oath as presiding officer.

“The Constitution is clear. The trial must begin immediately. Walang pag-iimbot. Agad-agad,” she declared.

She said anyone who objects to the start of the trial is effectively rejecting the Constitution.

Hontiveros also warned that compressing the trial into a few days after months of delay would make a mockery of the process.

The impeachment complaint accuses Duterte of betrayal of public trust, constitutional violations, conspiracy to commit murder, and misuse of public funds.

As of June 9, Escudero has taken his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court.

However, the Senate has not yet formally convened as a court, with the oath-taking of senator-judges scheduled for 4 p.m. on June 10.