The Senate has started internal preparations for a possible impeachment trial, with lawmakers holding a caucus to discuss procedures in the event the House of Representatives transmits articles of impeachment, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Thursday.
Sotto said senators already tackled possible steps and timelines during the caucus, but stressed that everything remains dependent on whether the impeachment documents actually reach the upper chamber.
“Pinag-usapan na namin ‘yung mga possibilities, if we ever do receive the articles of impeachment, then we discuss the preparations that we need to do,” he said in a chance interview.
He added that no final schedule or action can be set without formal transmission from the House.
“All these suggestions and preparations and possibilities of timing depend on whether the articles of impeachment reach the Senate,” Sotto said.
Sotto said the Senate is ready to move quickly once the articles are officially submitted.
“Kung matatanggap namin, we will act on it forthwith. Sa akin ang forthwith, the following day,” he said.
He explained that the chamber must first be in session to formally receive the impeachment articles before it can proceed to organize itself as an impeachment court.
“As soon as we receive it, then that’s the time we will officially decide on what to do with the timing,” he said.
Sotto also noted that impeachment preparations will have to be balanced with the Senate’s ongoing legislative workload, which includes priority measures.
“17 pa eh, matrabaho pa,” he said, referring to pending bills under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.
| He reiterated that all preparations remain contingent on the House completing its process and transmitting the impeachment articles to the Senate. | with reports from PNA |
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