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MANILA, Philippines — Asserting that it is their fundamental duty to oppose the majority, members of the minority bloc in the Senate would naturally resist the convening of an impeachment court to try Vice President Sara Duterte, according to Sen. Robinhood Padilla.
“Isn’t it the role of the minority is to oppose? Not just the impeachment. Everything here – our task is to oppose,” Padilla said in Filipino when asked if the minority would oppose the elevation of the impeachment case against Duterte to the plenary.
While Padilla was sure about his stand, other members of the minority – like Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano and Senators Imee Marcos and Jinggoy Estrada – said the matter has not yet been discussed among them.
Padilla, nonetheless, appealed to the public not to mistake their procedural resistance for blind partisanship.
“If we oppose, I hope they don’t accuse us of being biased. It’s our job as minority. It’s a parliamentary procedure that we should follow. That’s what democracy says,” he said.
Pressed specifically on whether he would object to the convening of an impeachment court, Padilla responded: “It’s natural. That’s a parliamentary behavior (kaugalian).”
Questioned if the public can expect him to remain fair and neutral during an expectedly highly politicized trial, Padilla pointed to his constitutional oath, but acknowledged some unavoidable political undertones in the process.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III also brushed aside speculations that some senators might attempt to block the convening of the impeachment court, maintaining that the chamber’s duty is ministerial once the articles cross over from the House.
“Follow the Constitution. it’s that simple, which is to convene. Once we receive the articles of impeachment, we must convene as Senate Impeachment Court. That is part of our work. That is part of our job as senators,” Sotto asserted, adding that there should be no more debate on the matter.
He stated that the process will not rely on backroom deals but on standard parliamentary procedure.
He also stressed that the constitutional mandate to proceed “forthwith” with an impeachment case means the Senate would immediately convene as an impeachment court, but actual trial would take a “reasonable time” to prepare.
With the House of Representatives committee report containing the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte already approved for voting, Sotto assured the public that the upper chamber is prepared to receive the charges as early as this week.
“We have been doing our best to be ready for whatever decisions or consequences arise. So whether they vote early or vote later or reject it or approve it, the Senate will do its job,” Sotto told reporters.
SC seeks Sotto explanation
The Supreme Court (SC) appears unhappy with Sotto’s position as it ordered the Senate leader to explain why he should not be cited for indirect contempt over his criticism of its ruling that invalidated the first Articles of Impeachment against Duterte in 2025.
The high tribunal said Sotto must “comment within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice of this resolution.”
The SC resolution stemmed from a complaint of indirect contempt filed in February 2026 by a group of lawyers including Ferdinand Topacio and Manuelito Luna. They accused him of “transgressing into the territory of statements that tend to demean, destroy the credibility, undermine the faith of the people in the Supreme Court.”
In a separate interview on dzBB, Sotto said the Senate plans to mandate a pre-trial should the impeachment complaint against Duterte reach the chamber, to prevent a chaotic and drawn-out proceeding.
Drawing from the lessons of the 2012 trial of former chief justice Renato Corona, the Senate leadership wants to establish clear parameters before the trial proper begins to avoid evidentiary surprises from the prosecution, he said.
“What I’ll do, based on experience, is pre-trial first before the trial proper. That’s in our rules, which is suppletory (application of) rules of court,” he added.
He emphasized that an initial conference will streamline the process and force both camps to lay down their cards early.
Addressing misconceptions about how quickly a trial should begin once the articles are transmitted, the Senate leader drew a clear line between convening the court and starting the trial.
“What the SC is saying, and what the SC is saying is correct, the impeachment itself is – yes, forthwith – but within reasonable time. What do they mean? They mean within reasonable time – the trial proper,” Sotto explained.
He stressed that his interpretation of “forthwith” is “immediately” when it comes to initiating the process in the Senate, but procedural due process must still be observed.
“You cannot ‘forthwith’ the day it’s transmitted... I plan to convene the impeachment court. I-convene only. Pero the trial proper will take some time because there are preparations,” he added.
Before any trial proper begins, Sotto said the Senate must first send a copy of the Articles of Impeachment to Duterte and her team, give them a couple of days to respond, await the prosecution’s reply and conduct a pre-trial conference.
Meanwhile, Sen. Erwin Tulfo dismissed speculations of an impending coup to unseat Sotto, saying the majority bloc remains firmly behind his leadership and that the chamber cannot afford political infighting while the nation grapples with severe socioeconomic issues.
He was reacting to a warning from former Senate president Koko Pimentel that a coup is possible if a supermajority decides to force a “legally flawed” motion to halt the trial, noting that Sotto would likely oppose such a move. “I don’t think so. I think they cannot muster enough votes for that,” Tulfo said. — Ghio Ong
