Senate may convene as impeachment court on May 18 —Alan Cayetano

The Senate may convene as an impeachment court on Monday, May 18 or "at the possible soonest time" following their receipt of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, according to Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.

Cayetano said he already signed a letter addressed to House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy, confirming receipt the Impeachment Articles and informing his counterpart of the possible convening.

"The Secretariat has been directed to include the Articles of Impeachment in the calendar for ordinary business for referral to the impeachment court, which shall be convened on May 18, 2026, 3 p.m. or at the possible soonest time absent any question to the rules and procedure related to the transmitted Articles," the letter reads.

"The Parties shall in due course be directed to appear before the Senate sitting as impeachment court on a date to be determined subsequently," it added.

On Wednesday evening, the chamber received the Impeachment Articles against Duterte from the House of Representatives.

Following the convening, Cayetano said the Senate would issue the summons and set the calendar for the impeachment trial.

"The biggest issue for me is the balancing of legislative work given the crisis na ating kinahaharap," he said.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday 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. —VAL, GMA News