‘Senate ready if VP Sara attends impeach trial’

MANILA, Philippines — Will Vice President Sara Duterte show up at the Senate today for her impeachment trial?

In case she does, the Senate is ready for her arrival and has already made all necessary preparations.

“Under the rules, she can just send a lawyer and even a representative. Inviting her is part of the process. But we’re preparing for everything. If our Vice President is going to the Senate, we are prepared and we have already coordinated with the police,” Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian told radio dzBB yesterday.

Gatchalian acknowledged the possibility that the Vice President would signify her attendance at the last minute before the impeachment court, hence the preparations.

On the first day of the trial today, Gatchalian said he expects that only preliminaries would be tackled. The prosecution and defense will deliver their opening statements and the impeachment court will tackle matters raised in the pre-trial conference.

The actual trial, which includes the presentation of witnesses and evidence, will start on July 7, Gatchalian said.

He expects all senator-judges from both the majority and minority blocs, except for detained Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who is suspended for 90 days, and fugitive Ronald dela Rosa to be present during the opening of trial at 2 p.m. today.

Gatchalian, who will sit as the presiding officer of the impeachment court, said they are preparing for all scenarios, including the possible arrest of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, who is facing plunder charges before the Sandiganbayan, as well as protest rallies outside the Senate premises in connection with the impeachment trial.

The Senate President also assured the public that the upper chamber will do its best to ensure that the proceedings would be fully and easily understood by simplifying the process and explaining what is happening in layman’s terms.

For Sen. Bam Aquino, all evidence presented during the impeachment trial must be made publicly accessible so the people could be informed of the proceedings and be able to make their own assessment regarding the evidence.

In a video message, Aquino said he intends to file a motion during the first week of trial to release to the public all the evidence presented during the proceedings.

He also pointed out that impeaching an elected official is a rigorous constitutional process that requires a two-thirds vote of senator-judges.

“Impeaching an elected officer is no simple matter because it reverses what has been mandated by the voters,” he said.

For its part, the House prosecution panel expressed its complete readiness for today’s impeachment trial, calling it the “first day toward the truth.”

Despite this, House prosecution spokesman and Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong clarified that today’s opening session would strictly focus on legal formalities and the resolution of pending matters.

These include requests to permit both public and private prosecutors to examine witnesses, to formalize the dual use of English and Filipino, and to unseal a Bureau of Internal Revenue box containing tax records tied to allegations of unexplained wealth.

Following the resolution of these preliminaries, the prosecution will immediately move to present its witnesses, focusing first on Article IV of the Articles of Impeachment.

This article accuses Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution for making grave threats against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and former speaker Martin Romualdez.

The prosecution has already submitted its initial witness list for the first three hearing days, which includes National Bureau of Investigation Bangsamoro regional director Jeremy Lotoc, NBI cyber senior agent John Mark Calilung and Legislative Security Bureau executive director Capt. Belinda Bello.

“This is not about who has the most number of witnesses, or who is the loudest. What is important is what can be proven through records, documents and testimonies,” Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua, a lead prosecutor, said yesterday.

Meanwhile, Tindig Pilipinas coalition staged a symbolic relay of the four Articles of Impeachment against Duterte from the House of Representatives to the Department of Education (DepEd) main office yesterday, urging the Senate to hold her accountable during the impeachment trial.

Dubbed “Lakbay Pananagutan,” the protest caravan began at the House of Representatives in Quezon City before making stops at the Commission on Audit, the Bank of the Philippine Islands branch along Julia Vargas Avenue in Pasig and the DepEd central office.

Participants carried symbolic copies of the Articles of Impeachment while chanting, “Convict Sara now!” and “Sara Duterte, litisin.”

“We remain hopeful because it took a hard fight to reach this point. But we are only cautiously optimistic because many things can still happen in the Senate. What is important is that we continue presenting the evidence and demanding accountability from Vice President Sara Duterte,” Tindig Pilipinas co-convenor Kiko Aquino-Dee said. — Neil Jayson Servallos, Mark Ernest Villeza

abtestabtest VP Sara ready to replace Marcos, says spokesperson By Bella Cariaso | 9 hours ago Vice President Sara Duterte is ready to replace President Marcos in case the latter resigns, according to her spokesman.... Headlines Congress urged: Permanently remove system loss charge By Delon Porcalla | 9 hours ago It’s now the turn of Congress – the Senate and the House of Representatives – to do its part in giving relief... Headlines Chiz OKs presentation of VP’s SALNs from 2007 By Neil Jayson Servallos | 9 hours ago The Senate impeachment court will scrutinize Vice President Sara Duterte’s financial records starting from her time... Headlines Romualdez moved to Payatas jail, arraignment set Sept. 16 By Ian Laqui | 1 day ago Former speaker was transferred to the Quezon City jail after independent medical review. Headlines Lapid: No official has filed a truly honest SALN? By Marc Jayson Cayabyab | 8 hours ago In an interjection rarely seen, Sen. Lito Lapid yesterday took the podium to bare what he called a reality in the filing of... Headlines Latest More in Headlines Remulla says Roque asylum bid denied; Roque disputes claim Ex-Duterte vlogger RJ Nieto gets Palace assistant secretary post LIVE Coverage: Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, Sept. 16 Scams, other cybercrimes rise to record 8% of families, says SWS abtest Romualdez mugshots at Quezon City jail released By Emmanuel Tupas | 9 hours ago Mugshots of Leyte congressman Martin Romualdez were released yesterday to the public, showing the former speaker in yellow... Headlines BARMM polls: Federalist party gets big bloc slot By John Unson | 9 hours ago The Bangsamoro Federalist Party ranked first in the Sept. 14 elections for bloc nominations to the 80-seat parliament... Headlines ‘Blanket class suspensions deepen literacy challenges’ By Bella Cariaso | 9 hours ago Blanket class suspensions could deepen literacy challenges as schools continue to lose significant teaching days to weather-related... Headlines Marcos to ASEAN: Strengthen cooperation on disasters By Helen Flores | 9 hours ago President Marcos has called on members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to strengthen cooperation on disaster... Headlines P16.03 billion for ARAL sought to sustain PISA gains By Bella Cariaso | 9 hours ago Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Tuesday urged Congress to approve a P16.03-billion supplemental budget for 2027 to sustain... Headlines Recommended Liga ng mga Barangay Cebu backs 5-year term for officials September 16, 2026 - 12:00am Cebu Provincial Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) Cebu Provincial Federation President Celestino Martinez III welcomed the Senate’s approval of a bill extending the term of barangay and Sangguniang...r HeadlinesOFFICIALS Paglili sa bilyones September 12, 2026 - 12:00am Pila ka adlaw sa dili pa mosugod pagpresentar og mga ebidensiya aron pagmatuod sa pasangil sa ilegal nga katigayonan ni Bise Presidente Sara Duterte sa pagpadayon sa impeachment trial karong Lunes, gipalili na sa...r HeadlinesSARA DUTERTE Supina ni Sara September 11, 2026 - 12:00am Mas lig-on ang mga sukaranan sa defense team ni Bise Presidente Sara Duterte sa pagsupak sa mosyon nga ipasaka sa prosekusyon nga moawhag sa Senate impeachment court sa pag-supina niya aron maoy mangunay sa pagtubag...r HeadlinesSARA DUTERTE next Recommended Liga ng mga Barangay Cebu backs 5-year term for officials Cebu Provincial Board Member and Liga ng mga Barangay (LnB) Cebu Provincial Federation President Celestino Martinez III welcomed the Senate’s approval of a bill extending the term of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials to five years. He said the longer tenure would give local leaders more time to implement and complete programs and projects. 9 hours ago OFFICIALS Paglili sa bilyones Pila ka adlaw sa dili pa mosugod pagpresentar og mga ebidensiya aron pagmatuod sa pasangil sa ilegal nga katigayonan ni Bise Presidente Sara Duterte sa pagpadayon sa impeachment trial karong Lunes, gipalili na sa House panel of prosecutors ang publiko sa iyang bank accounts: 4 days ago SARA DUTERTE Supina ni Sara Mas lig-on ang mga sukaranan sa defense team ni Bise Presidente Sara Duterte sa pagsupak sa mosyon nga ipasaka sa prosekusyon nga moawhag sa Senate impeachment court sa pag-supina niya aron maoy mangunay sa pagtubag sa mga pasangil: 5 days ago SARA DUTERTE OK Are you sure you want to log out? Yes No X Login Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!