Senate to convene 'forthwith' for Sara Duterte impeachment trial—Alan Cayetano

The Senate will convene as an impeachment court "forthwith" upon receipt of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte from the House of Representatives.

"Forthwith. I consulted also Senator (Vicente 'Tito') Sotto. Sabi niya, process, ibigay muna sa committee. We will do what has to be done and there won't be delays," Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano told reporters Tuesday.

(We will convene forthwith. I consulted also Senator Sotto and he said the process is that we need to refer it first to the committee. We will do what has to be done and there won't be delays.)

The new Senate leader expressed hope to hold an all-member caucus by Tuesday, May 12, or Wednesday, May 13, to discuss issues including Duterte's impeachment trial.

"There won't be delays. You judge us on our actions. But I don't know what time ire-receive. I don't know. That's why I want a majority caucus para it's not a decision of only one group," he said.

According to Senate Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza, the chamber has yet to receive the Impeachment Articles from the House.

"We have to calendar it pa sa session. Kung aabot kung di man today eh di tomorrow," Mendoza said.

(We have to include it in our session. If it will not be included in the agenda today, it will be taken up tomorrow.)

The Senate had a change of leadership on Monday ahead of the possible transmittal of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte. Cayetano was elected Senate President while Senator Loren Legarda was named Senate President Pro-Tempore.

Also on Monday, the House of Representatives impeached Duterte for the second time on allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes. The chamber voted 257-25. —AOL, GMA News