By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — Senators convened behind closed doors on Friday to finalize preparations for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with deliberations focusing on procedural matters and the leadership of the proceedings scheduled to begin on July 6.
The caucus was attended by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III, and Senators Panfilo Lacson, Risa Hontiveros, JV Ejercito, Erwin Tulfo, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Francis Escudero, Loren Legarda, and Robin Padilla.
Among those present, Legarda and Padilla were the only members of the Senate minority bloc.
A senator familiar with the discussions, who requested anonymity because of the confidential nature of the meeting, said the lawmakers reviewed the trial timetable and other procedural issues, including the question of who should preside over the impeachment court.
The issue gained prominence following recent amendments to the Senate’s impeachment rules, which now permit the chamber to elect another senator as presiding officer through a majority vote of members present, instead of automatically assigning the role to the Senate president.
Under the previous rules, the Senate president was required to preside over all impeachment proceedings except when the President of the Philippines was the respondent.
The source indicated that members of the minority bloc have expressed reservations over the possibility of another senator being chosen to preside over the trial.
The rule change has fueled renewed debate within the chamber, particularly after calls from some lawmakers that Senate President Gatchalian—not another senator—should lead the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte.
The Senate is expected to settle remaining procedural concerns before formally convening as an impeachment court on Monday, when one of the most closely watched political proceedings in recent years is set to begin.
elamigo/xf
