The Senate will convene as an impeachment court at 3 p.m. on Monday, May 18, Senate President Allan Peter Cayetano announced.
The development came after the House of Representatives transmitted the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the Senate on Wednesday.
Cayetano said he already signed a letter addressed to House Speaker Faustino Dy regarding the matter.
According to Cayetano, the decision was based on consultations with the Senate majority bloc.
He said 13 senators agreed to convene on Monday for Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Cayetano added that the Senate Secretariat had already been instructed to include the Articles of Impeachment in the calendar for ordinary business to allow referral to the impeachment court.
Once the impeachment court officially convenes and summons are sent, the trial proper is expected to follow immediately, he said.
The impeachment process against Duterte is expected to become one of the most closely watched political proceedings in the country, with senators set to serve as judges during the trial.
No additional details were immediately released regarding the schedule of the presentation of evidence or other procedural matters related to the impeachment proceedings.
The Senate has yet to announce the complete timeline for the trial proper following the issuance of summons to the vice president.
