SENATORS HOLD CAUCUS AHEAD OF VP SARA DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL ON JULY 6

Senators convened in a caucus on Friday as the Senate finalized preparations for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, which is scheduled to formally begin on Monday, July 6.

A photo released by the office of Senator Migz Zubiri showed members of both the majority and minority blocs attending the closed-door meeting. Among those present were Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, Senators Loren Legarda, Robin Padilla, Win Gatchalian, and other members of the Senate.

The caucus was held as the Senate enters the final stage of preparations for the highly anticipated impeachment proceedings. Senate officials have earlier said the chamber is fully prepared for the trial, with the plenary hall, offices for the prosecution and defense panels, and media facilities already set up ahead of the opening session.

The impeachment trial follows months of pre-trial proceedings, including the submission of pleadings and the marking of documentary evidence by both the House prosecution panel and the defense. The trial is expected to begin at 2:00 p.m. on July 6, with hearings initially scheduled from Monday to Wednesday before shifting to Tuesday through Thursday after the State of the Nation Address later this month.

Vice President Duterte faces impeachment charges that include allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes. She has denied the allegations, with her legal team maintaining that the charges lack legal and factual basis.

Under the Constitution, senators will sit as judges during the impeachment trial, while House prosecutors will present evidence in support of the Articles of Impeachment. A two-thirds vote of all senators is required to convict and remove an impeachable official from office.