MANILA — The Philippine Senate has published amendments to its impeachment trial rules, giving senators the authority to elect presiding officers in cases involving officials other than a sitting president. The move comes as the chamber prepares for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The changes, approved under Senate Resolution No. 48 and published on June 9, 2026, revise Rule II of the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials. Senators may now designate a presiding officer by majority vote, though the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court continues to preside over presidential impeachment trials, as required by the 1987 Constitution.
Vice President Duterte’s Trial
The Senate convened as an impeachment court on May 18, 2026, following the House of Representatives’ transmission of Articles of Impeachment. The complaint alleges graft, unexplained wealth, and constitutional violations, charges Duterte has denied.
Pre-trial conferences are ongoing, with a session set for June 18, 2026, and trial proceedings expected to begin in July 2026. Conviction requires a two-thirds vote of all 24 senators (16 votes).
Leadership Dispute and Legal Context
The amendments follow a contested Senate leadership reorganization in early June, with Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian assuming primary leadership responsibilities. Former Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano questioned the procedural basis, but a petition challenging the reorganization was dismissed by the Supreme Court on June 10, 2026, citing lack of legal standing.
