𝗦𝗘𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗦 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗖𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗔𝗚𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧 𝗩𝗣 𝗦𝗔𝗥𝗔 𝗗𝗨𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗧𝗘

By Sherman Calotes | Philippine People's Press 

Manila, Philippines — In a historic move fulfilling its constitutional mandate, the Senate of the Philippines convened on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, as an impeachment court to begin the trial of Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero presided over the solemn proceedings, formally opening the trial with the declaration, “The Senate is now convened as an impeachment court, and the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte is hereby declared open and called to order.”

Clad in their official Oxford crimson robes, members of the Senate took their oaths as senator-judges who are expected to exercise impartiality, independence, and integrity in the course of the trial.

Escudero administered the oath to key Senate leaders including Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino, Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, Deputy Majority Leaders Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito and Mark Villar, as well as Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros.

The rest of the senators, including Nancy Binay, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Win Gatchalian, Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Grace Poe, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., Raffy Tulfo, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, and Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri also took their oath as impartial judges.

Notably, Senators Imee Marcos and Robin Padilla also took their oaths but formally expressed reservations regarding the impeachment process, a move that drew mixed reactions from observers.

The convening of the Senate as an impeachment court comes one day after Escudero took his own oath as the presiding officer. Under the 1987 Constitution, the Senate has the exclusive authority to try and decide all impeachment cases brought forth by the House of Representatives.

The impeachment trial of Vice President Duterte, which stems from complaints filed and approved by the House, is expected to test the political resolve and independence of the legislative body. The charges and evidence are anticipated to be presented in the coming sessions, as the Senate braces for a landmark legal and political proceeding.

The trial marks only the third time in Philippine history that the Senate has assumed its role as an impeachment court, underscoring the gravity and rarity of the proceedings.

The nation now watches as the Senate embarks on a constitutional journey that could shape the country’s political landscape in the years to come.

Philippine People's Press | In Truth We Prevail