Senator Risa Hontiveros announced that the Senate minority bloc will formally move to initiate the opening proceedings of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial during today’s plenary session.
Hontiveros, alongside Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, plans to request that Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero be sworn in as the presiding officer of the impeachment court and that all senators take their oaths as judges for the proceedings.
She clarified that the motion only seeks to begin the formal opening rites—not the trial proper—which would involve administering oaths and presenting the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate. “This is about formality, not the trial itself. It won’t even take an hour,” she emphasized.
Hontiveros underscored that the minority will insist the Senate uphold its constitutional duty, especially amid growing public support for the impeachment trial from academic, religious, and legal groups. “The Senate cannot ignore these calls,” she said.
Vice President Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5 with support from over 200 lawmakers. However, the Senate has yet to take action on the Articles of Impeachment, delaying the case while focusing on legislative priorities.
The Senate has scheduled the reading of the impeachment complaint for June 11, just days before the 19th Congress adjourns on June 14. Duterte faces accusations of betrayal of public trust, constitutional violations, and graft—charges she denies.