Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian has confirmed that he will preside over the Senate impeachment court during the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, ending speculation that another senator could be chosen to oversee the historic proceedings. Gatchalian said the Senate’s existing rules clearly designate the Senate president as the presiding officer, despite earlier reports that the majority bloc was considering electing Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero for the role.
MANILA, Philippines – Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian on Friday declared that he will personally preside over the Senate impeachment court for the upcoming trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, clarifying the leadership arrangement for one of the country’s most closely watched constitutional proceedings.
Speaking in an interview with dzMM on July 3, Gatchalian emphasized that the Senate’s rules leave little room for ambiguity regarding who should oversee the impeachment trial. He stated that the responsibility naturally falls upon the Senate president, dismissing earlier speculation that another senator would assume the role.
“Under our rules, ang Senate President ang magpe-preside,” Gatchalian said when asked to confirm whether the Senate majority had already decided on the presiding officer. “Ako ang magpe-preside.”
His statement comes after Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson disclosed in June that the Senate majority bloc had been considering electing Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero as the presiding officer. The possibility emerged following amendments to the Senate’s impeachment rules, which now allow senators to designate or elect a different member to preside over impeachment proceedings instead of the Senate president.
READ MORE ARTICLES:
- All Eyes on Sara Duterte as Senate Launches Explosive Impeachment Trial
- PH New Curriculum Raises Questions About Teacher Workloads, School Leadership Nationwide
- Ferdinand Marcos Met by Filipino Protesters in Canada, Driven Away from Rally
- Connecticut Mansion Trail Raises Questions Martin Romualdez Wealth, Linked to Andrew Casiño
- DOLE Releases ₱9.88 Million Wages for 1,040 Fisherfolk Beneficiaries
- 21,000 Join Visayas Job Fairs for Skills and Careers
- Ombudsman Files Non-Bailable Plunder Case Against Sen. Rodante Marcoleta
Despite the revised rule, Gatchalian maintained that the chamber would continue to follow the traditional practice, with the Senate president leading the impeachment court.
Beyond confirming his role, Gatchalian revealed that preparations for the impeachment trial are already well underway. He said the Senate is not only making logistical arrangements for the chamber but is also conducting extensive preparations to ensure the proceedings comply with constitutional requirements and established parliamentary rules.
According to the Senate president, his responsibilities extend far beyond managing the courtroom. He explained that he has been studying the technical procedures governing impeachment trials while also reviewing the merits of the case to better understand the legal and procedural issues that could arise during the proceedings.
Gatchalian acknowledged that the preparation has been particularly demanding because of the numerous scenarios that the Senate must anticipate before formally convening as an impeachment court.
“Napakabigat ng preparation dahil tinitignan namin lahat ng senaryo, tinitignan namin lahat ng posibleng mangyari. Kaya mahabang pag-aayos at mahabang preparasyon,” he said.
He noted that Senate officials are carefully evaluating every possible development to ensure the institution is fully prepared for any procedural or legal challenges that may emerge once the trial begins.
The impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte are expected to become one of the most significant constitutional events in recent Philippine political history, drawing intense public attention as lawmakers prepare to perform their dual role as legislators and impeachment court judges.
As presiding officer, Gatchalian will be responsible for maintaining order during the proceedings, ruling on procedural matters, and ensuring that the trial is conducted fairly and in accordance with the Constitution and Senate rules. His confirmation provides greater clarity on the leadership structure of the impeachment court as the Senate continues its preparations.
With logistical planning, legal review, and procedural training already in progress, the Senate leadership is signaling its readiness to handle the highly anticipated trial while emphasizing the importance of thorough preparation and strict adherence to institutional rules.
Senate Sets Duterte Impeachment Trial as Twenty-Two Senators Expected to Convene Monday
The Senate is set to formally open the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, with Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian saying that all senators who are physically able to participate are expected to attend the historic proceedings. Only 22 senator-judges are anticipated to be present, as Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa remains absent while evading an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and suspended Senator Jinggoy Estrada continues serving a 90-day suspension while detained over his plunder case.
The Senate is finalizing preparations for the highly anticipated impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian expressing confidence that nearly the entire chamber will be present when the impeachment court convenes for the first time on Monday.
Speaking ahead of the opening of the proceedings, Gatchalian said every senator who is physically capable of performing the constitutional duty of serving as a senator-judge is expected to attend the inaugural session of the impeachment court.
“Lahat ng physically pwedeng mag-participate inaasahan natin na papasok on Monday,” Gatchalian said, underscoring the Senate leadership’s expectation of broad participation in one of the country’s most consequential constitutional processes.
With two senators unable to participate, the impeachment court is expected to open with 22 senator-judges. Among those absent is Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, who remains out of public view while evading authorities following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC). His continued absence leaves one seat vacant as the Senate prepares to hear the impeachment case.
Also unable to participate is suspended Senator Jinggoy Estrada, who is currently serving a 90-day suspension and remains detained in connection with his plunder case involving alleged anomalies in flood control projects. His suspension further reduces the number of senators available to sit as judges during the impeachment proceedings.
Despite the reduced number of participating lawmakers, Gatchalian emphasized that the Senate remains fully prepared to commence the constitutional process according to established rules and procedures.
The Senate president also clarified that discussions regarding the number of votes required for conviction will not take place during the opening day of the trial. According to him, procedural matters will be addressed at the appropriate stage of the proceedings rather than immediately after the impeachment court is convened.
“May tamang araw at tamang panahon para pag-usapan ‘yan,” Gatchalian said, stressing that the Senate intends to follow a structured timetable for resolving procedural and legal issues as the trial progresses.
Gatchalian said the impeachment proceedings are expected to extend over a lengthy period, with the entire process projected to span approximately 92 trial days, potentially stretching over seven to eight months depending on the pace of the presentation of evidence and the resolution of procedural motions.
Beginning next week, the Senate impeachment court is scheduled to hold trial sessions every Monday through Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., allowing lawmakers to balance their legislative responsibilities with their constitutional role as members of the impeachment court.
Following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.‘s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 27, the Senate will adjust the trial calendar. Proceedings will thereafter be conducted every Tuesday through Thursday, maintaining regular hearings while accommodating the legislative calendar and other official Senate activities.
To promote transparency and public access, the Senate has opened the impeachment proceedings to the general public. A total of 61 seats have been allocated inside the Senate impeachment court for observers, allowing members of the public and other authorized attendees to witness the historic proceedings firsthand.
House prosecutors have likewise announced that the impeachment trial will be broadcast using a mix of English and Filipino, a move intended to make the proceedings more accessible and understandable to the broader public while ensuring that constitutional processes remain transparent.
Meanwhile, the Senate has formally notified Vice President Duterte of the impending proceedings. As of July 3, the chamber had already sent an official letter directing her to appear before the Senate impeachment court either personally or through legal counsel, in accordance with the Senate’s impeachment rules.
Vice President Duterte is facing impeachment over allegations that include graft and corruption, grave threat, unexplained wealth, and the alleged misuse of confidential funds. The charges are expected to be examined in detail as House prosecutors present evidence and witnesses before the senator-judges in what is anticipated to become one of the longest and most closely watched impeachment trials in recent Philippine history.
With the Senate poised to formally convene as an impeachment court, attention now turns to the opening session on Monday, where lawmakers will begin a constitutional process that could shape the country’s political landscape for months to come.