(Photo courtesy of Impact Leadership Facebook page)
Manila, Philippines – A historic political drama is set to unfold as the Senate gears up to transform into an impeachment court on June 3, 2025, marking the beginning of Vice President Sara Duterte’s formal impeachment trial.
According to a letter from Senate President Francis Escudero addressed to House Speaker Martin Romualdez, the upper chamber will receive the House Prosecution Panel at 4:00 p.m. on June 2 for the ceremonial reading of the seven charges outlined in the Articles of Impeachment. This procedural move officially sets the stage for the Senate to don its robes as an impeachment court the following morning.
“The Senate will convene at 9:00 a.m. on June 3 for the issuance of the summons and other preliminary orders, in line with Rule 1 of the Senate’s Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials,” Escudero wrote in the letter dated May 19.
The Vice President stands accused of grave offenses, ranging from betrayal of public trust and culpable constitutional violations to bribery and conspiracy to destabilize the government. Most sensational among the allegations is the claim that Duterte plotted to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Romualdez—an accusation rooted in a heated and expletive-laden press conference she gave in November 2024. This occurred shortly after her chief of staff, Zuleika Lopez, was detained by House authorities.
(Video courtesy of ANC Digital)
The complaint further charges Duterte with large-scale corruption, misuse of public funds under both the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education (where she concurrently served as Secretary), and failure to declare assets, liabilities, and interests in full.
Following the presentation of the charges, the Senate will issue a writ of summons to Duterte, giving her a non-extendible 10-day window to respond. The House prosecutors, in turn, will have five days to submit a reply. The trial will proceed under strict adherence to Senate rules.
Escudero had earlier circulated a proposed timeline to all parties, which includes key procedural milestones:
- June 2 – House prosecutors formally present the Articles of Impeachment; Senate adopts revised trial rules.
- June 3 – Official convening of the impeachment court; Senator-judges take oath.
- June 4 – Summons issued to the respondent.
- June 14–24 – Submission of pleadings.
- June 24–July 25 – Pre-trial hearings.
- July 28 – Opening of the 20th Congress and the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
- July 29 – Oath-taking of newly-elected senators for impeachment duty.
- July 30 – Commencement of full trial sessions from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
This marks one of the most politically volatile moments in recent Philippine history. If convicted, Duterte could be removed from office—just three years into her term—and barred from holding public office in the future.
Observers both domestic and international are closely monitoring the proceedings, as the outcome could redefine the nation’s political landscape and establish powerful precedents for executive accountability.