Senate gears up for possible impeachment trial

The Senate has begun internal discussions on how it would proceed should the House of Representatives transmit articles of impeachment, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Thursday.

Sotto said senators met in a caucus to prepare for possible scenarios, including procedural steps, timelines, and logistical requirements, although he stressed that all preparations remain contingent on action from the House.

“Pinag-usapan na namin ‘yung mga possibilities, if we ever do receive the articles of impeachment, then we discuss the preparations that we need to do,” he said in a chance interview.

He added that while planning is underway, everything still depends on whether the impeachment documents are formally sent to the Senate.

“All these suggestions and preparations and possibilities of timing depend on whether the articles of impeachment reach the Senate,” he said.

Sotto assured that once the Senate receives the articles, it will move without delay.

“Kung matatanggap namin, we will act on it forthwith. Sa akin ang forthwith, the following day,” he said.

He explained that the Senate must first be in session before it can formally receive the articles and constitute itself as an impeachment court.

“As soon as we receive it, then that’s the time we will officially decide on what to do with the timing,” he added.

Sotto also noted the need to balance potential impeachment proceedings with the chamber’s legislative workload, citing 17 priority measures under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council still pending.

“17 pa eh, matrabaho pa,” he said.

He emphasized that all preparations remain provisional until the House of Representatives completes and transmits any impeachment complaint to the upper chamber.