Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday, June 3, said the Senate is constitutionally obligated to act on the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte following the transmittal of the articles of impeachment.
“Kapag constitutional mandate, gagawin mo lang,” Cayetano said in a media interview.
He was responding to whether the Senate needs to vote to convene as an impeachment court. While a vote among the 24 senators may take place, the senator from Taguig City warned against using it to derail the process.
“Yung implementing it and applying it to the 24 senators, may botohan ‘yan. But just because may botohan doesn’t make it right,” Cayetano said, stressing that a simple majority in plenary should not override what the Constitution requires.
The House of Representatives transmitted the articles of impeachment to the Senate on February 5, 2025, the last session day before the congressional break. The Senate did not act on them before adjourning.
When sessions resumed, the presentation of the articles was scheduled for June 2 but was postponed to June 11 by Senate President Francis Escudero to prioritize remaining legislation before the 19th Congress ends.IMT
