What is the Senate's timeline after Articles of Impeachment are transmitted?

Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III has committed that the Senate will immediately convene as an impeachment court, should it receive from the House of Representatives the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.

The Congress is set to resume session on Monday, May 4, 2026 after a seven-week legislative break.

House justice committee chairperson and Batangas 2nd District Representative Gerville Luistro said the House justice panel will still meet on May 4 for the voting on the committee report with the corresponding Articles of Impeachment before sending it to the House committee on rules for scheduling of plenary action. 

The House committee, via unanimous vote, found probable cause on Wednesday to impeach Duterte based on two impeachment complaints filed against her. 

Transmittal to the Senate

Once scheduled for plenary action, at least one-third of all members of the House should vote to affirm the decision of the House justice committee, which will carry the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President. 

If the votes are secured, the Articles of Impeachment will be transmitted to the Senate, which has the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment.

According to Sotto, should the impeachment articles be sent to the Senate by mid-May, the upper chamber will convene as an impeachment court immediately on the following day. 

"If ever pinasa nila, [May] 11 or 12, transmit nila (if ever they transmit by May 11 or 12). [May] 13, we will discuss it already and convene as impeachment court," he said. 

It depends on...

Sotto, however, clarified that there is no definitive schedule yet, as everything will still depend on whether or not the Articles of Impeachment will indeed be transferred by the House.

"As soon as we receive it, then that's the time we will officially decide on what to do with the timing. Definitely, there's one thing for sure, once we receive it we will convene... as an impeachment court if we do receive it," he said. 

Sotto, who is expected to sit as the presiding officer of the impeachment court, also stressed that timeline is considered crucial as Congress is scheduled to go on sine die adjournment by June 6, 2026.

He, however, clarified that the Senate may extend its sessions if necessary, especially if the impeachment court has convened.

"But then again, the impeachment court is different from the Senate. So kailangan pag-usapan namin 'yung timetable. Just in case. Kasi lahat 'yan speculative eh. Hintayin muna natin 'yung Articles of Impeachment. If they pass it and they will transmit, then we discuss everything else," Sotto added. 

(But then again, the impeachment court is different from the Senate. So we need to discuss the timetable. Just in case. Because all that is speculative. Let's wait for the Articles of Impeachment, if the House passes it and if they will transmit, then we discuss everything else.) 

Trial dates in June?

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo "Ping" Lacson also affirmed that the impeachment trial may continue even during the next session break in June.

"Tuluy-tuloy 'yun. Separate naman ang impeachment trial sa session, so the sine die won't affect in any way 'yung impeachment," Lacson said.

(That will continue. The impeachment trial is separate from the session, so the sine die won't affect in any way the impeachment.) 

Lacson previously proposed holding the Senate impeachment proceedings on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays starting at 3 p.m. — VDV, GMA News