Senate impeachment court summons Sara Duterte to trial opening

The Senate impeachment court has summoned Vice President Sara Duterte to appear at the formal opening of her impeachment trial on Monday, July 6.

In a notice dated July 2, Duterte was directed to appear before the impeachment court on July 6 pursuant to Rule 7 of the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials and in accordance to the writ of summons issued against her on May 19.

"You are hereby notified that trial will commence on the 6th day of July at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and are further directed to appear on said date, in person or through counsel, before the Impeachment Court at the Session Hall of the Senate of the Philippines, Pasay City," the notice reads.

Duterte's impeachment trial will begin at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 6. It will initially be held weekly from Monday to Wednesday at 2 p.m. before the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on July 27. Proceedings will be adjusted to Tuesdays to Thursdays at 2 p.m. after the SONA.

All-member caucus

Meanwhile, the Senate is currently holding an all-member caucus—a meeting of all senators from both the majority and minority bloc—ahead of the opening of the impeachment trial.

Led by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, members of the majority and minority bloc arrived at the Senate as part of the preparations for the impeachment proceedings.

In attendance were members of the majority bloc, including Senators JV Ejercito, Ping Lacson, Erwin Tulfo, Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, and Risa Hontiveros, as well as two minority senators—Senators Loren Legarda and Robin Padilla.

"Ang pinag-usapan namin is all about impeachment. Binigyan kami mga documents to follow 'yung mga sequencing," Tulfo told reporters in a chance interview after the caucus.

(We talked about the impeachment. We were given documents to follow the sequencing.)

Tulfo also appealed to other minority senators to attend succeeding meetings. One issue that remains unresolved is whether senator-judges will elect a separate presiding officer for the impeachment court.

Asked if the filing of non-bailable plunder charges against Senator Rodante Marcoleta was discussed, Tulfo said attendees only spoke about the impeachment.

Duterte is facing impeachment charges over allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes.

In May, she was impeached by the House of Representatives for the second time.

The Senate then convened as an impeachment court on May 18.

On June 1, Duterte's camp filed its answer to the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President, asking the court to junk the impeachment case against her.

Preparations underway

According a Balitanghali report by Sandra Aguinaldo, preparations at the Senate continued on Friday, three days before the trial. Media organizations have been setting up equipment inside the Senate complex to document the high-profile proceedings.

Workers also continued preparing the Senate session hall, where the impeachment trial will be held. Aside from cleaning and minor repairs carried out in recent days, the chamber's layout has been reconfigured.

Unlike during regular sessions where senators face the podium and the Philippine flag, the seating arrangement has been adjusted so senator-judges will face the witness stand during the trial.

Under the Senate Rules on Impeachment Trials, senators may elect a presiding officer. While Gatchalian is currently presiding over Senate sessions, Escudero has been floated as a possible presiding officer for the impeachment trial.

Asked who should preside over the proceedings, Tulfo declined to endorse anyone.

"I don't know kung ano ang desisyon. We'll leave it to them," he said. — with a report from Sherylin Untalan/ VDV, GMA News