Senate to convene as Impeachment Court on May 18—Cayetano

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced that the Senate is set to transform into an impeachment court on Monday, May 18, to begin the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a press conference on Thursday, Cayetano read his letter addressed to House Speaker Faustino Bojie Dy III, formally acknowledging the articles of impeachment against Duterte.

"The Senate has taken proper order of the impeachment and shall immediately proceed to its consideration," he read.

The convening of the impeachment court on May 18, 3 p.m. or "at the possible soonest time."

Cayetano also outlined the initial steps for an impeachment trial, beginning with the Senate organizing its committees and adopting procedural rules. 

He added that the Majority bloc has already decided in a caucus that they are satisfied with the rules used in previous impeachments and do not plan to change them.

"From the Majority side, kasi nag caucus kami kagabi, I don't see any ammendments to the rules. So if there's going to be any, I'm not saying there will be... I'm saying it won't come from the Majority kais nag meeting kami kagabi, we are happy with the former rules. Kung ano yung rules kay sa mga dating na-impeach, good din sa amin ngayon," he said.

"Kaya lang hindi ko matatanggal yung karapatan ng bawat senador na tumayo."

The Senate has formally received the articles of impeachment against Duterte on Wednesday evening.

The impeachment case was transmitted at 7:22 p.m. by House Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil to the Senate through Senate Secretary Mark Leandro Mendoza, as reported by the Philippine News Agency.

House lawmakers voted 257 in favor of impeachment during its first regular session despite a statement released by PDP Laban on May 10 warning legislators they will be barred from running under the party's banner if they voted to impeach Duterte. Twenty-five voted against impeachment, and nine abstained. 

The VP is facing allegations of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, and other high crimes.