LIVE UPDATES: Senate convenes as impeachment court vs VP Sara Duterte (May 20, 2026)

Vice President Sara Duterte has until June 1 to answer the writ of summons issued against her in relation to her impeachment case, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said Wednesday.

Cayetano made the announcement as he confirmed the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms (SAA) formally served the writ of summons and copies of the Impeachment Articles to Duterte earlier in the day.

The Office of the Vice President (OVP) confirmed receipt of the documents.

"I respectfully inform the body that today May 20, 2026 the summons in relation to the Articles of Impeachment filed against Vice President Sara Duterte was duly-served upon respondent Vice Pesident Sara Z. Duterte," Cayetano said.

"A copy of the summons was likewise furnished to the prosecution panel on the same date," he added. 

The Senate impeachment court on Wednesday issued a writ of summons against Vice President Sara Duterte in relation to her impeachment case.

Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Manuel Parlade led the serving of the written summons. 

In a message to reporters, the Office of the Vice President confirmed receipt of the summons at 10:40 a.m.

The private prosecutors who will help the 11 House prosecutors for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will be rendering their services "free of charge," House trial spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Adiong said Wednesday.

“The mere fact that they have volunteered their services free of charge to be part of the prosecution team, it's because of their fidelity to the Constitution and they are already convinced that there are probable cause, there is evidence to hold the Vice President to account,” Adiong said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

“They have volunteered their services free of charge because ultimately, we want to strengthen the impeachment process, which is our accountability mechanism and the most democratic way of holding impeachable officers to account. We thank them for wholeheartedly offering their services to be a part of the prosecution team,” Adiong added.

Adiong, however, has yet to disclose the names of the private prosecutors.

Senator Erwin Tulfo said he has started reading the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.

For him, what is important is to check if the evidence is strong.

"Maraming cinite doon (articles of impeachment) pero titingnan lang natin siguro kung talaga bang matibay ang ebidensiya. Kung hindi matibay ang ebidensiya eh bakit pa patagalin 'di ba at masasayang lang ang oras natin, marami hong problema ang bayan. Pero kung may ebidensiya naman eh bakit mo ipipikit ang mata mo at hindi ka gagawa ng ika nga ng verdict na guilty, 'di ba?," he said.

([The articles of impeachment] cited many things but we will look if there is strong evidence. If the evidence is not strong, why lengthen the process? We will just waste time and the country has many problems [to be addressed]. But if the evidence is strong, why close your eyes and not give a guilty verdict?) —KG, GMA News