‘Impeach court alive, senators can take oath as judges’

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July 1, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines —  Although the 20th Congress has not convened yet, the Senate impeachment court remains in session and newly elected senators can already take their oaths as senator-judges starting noon yesterday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros said.

Despite this, she said nothing can be decided without convening.

“No decision can be made outside the impeachment court. I am expecting that the impeachment court will not convene until July 29 to carry on the work,” she said.

“The court is in session, and anytime they (newly elected senators) can be called by the presiding officer. As they arrive, hopefully they get sworn in earlier. No matter what, the trial pushes through,” she added.

Hontiveros made the remarks amid concerns that the impeachment court may move to dismiss the complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte – a worry triggered by Senate President Francis Escudero’s statement that the court may entertain a motion to dismiss.

While Duterte is questioning the jurisdiction of the 20th Congress over her impeachment complaint, Hontiveros stressed that Supreme Court (SC) rulings have held that impeachment is not a legislative function and is not bound by the legislative calendar.

“There are SC rulings that the impeachment as a non-legislative function is unaffected by the legislative calendar,” the senator said.

Asked about the ad cautelam pleadings filed by the defense, Hontiveros reiterated her stance that a decision should only come after a proper trial.

“The motion to dismiss is included in the formal answer ad cautelam, however, for us, I understand our duty differently. It is to conduct a trial forthwith and be able to vote whether to convict or acquit. We need to hear those per Article of Impeachment. Due process requires it. We cannot vote without a trial,” she said.

SONA preps

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police has started its preparations for the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos on July 28.

PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III said there are already initial talks with the House of Representatives sergeant-at-arms as well as representatives of concerned offices on the security measures to be imposed for Marcos’ SONA.

Even with the looming impeachment trial of Marcos’ former ally Vice President Duterte, Torre assured the public they have a security template ready for every scenario that may occur.

He said there have been security issues in past SONAs not only during the current administration, but in previous ones as well.

“We are going to prepare with the worst in mind but of course we also hope for the best,” Torre said at a news briefing in Camp Crame yesterday.

Torre declined to disclose the number of police officers they will deploy for the SONA, but gave assurance they have enough personnel to maintain peace and order.

“It’s up to us. We will ensure that the SONA will be peaceful,” he said.

Activist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) is marking Marcos’ latest SONA with protest actions to condemn worsening corruption in government, failure to address rising prices of basic commodities, continuing human rights abuses and subservience to foreign interest.

Bayan secretary general Raymond Palatino said the lives of the poor only got worse under Marcos due to high prices of goods and services.

“He offers palliative measures to ease the burden of consumers but these hardly made a difference as smuggling and importation of agricultural products continue without letup,” Palatino said in a statement.

Palatino said Marcos is increasingly turning into a lame duck leader as more people have expressed dismay over his leadership. –  Emmanuel Tupas