MANILA, Philippines — Chel Diokno on Tuesday called on the Senate to immediately proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, stressing that the public is closely monitoring the process regardless of who leads the chamber.
In a statement shared online, Diokno emphasized that the Senate has a constitutional obligation to act on the impeachment complaint transmitted by the House of Representatives.
“‘Kahit sino pa ang nakaupong lider ng Senado, mahigpit na babantayan ng publiko ang proseso ng impeachment,’” Diokno said.
“The House has done its job. Now it’s the Senate’s turn to fulfill their constitutional duty and convene forthwith,” he added.
The remarks came following major developments in the Senate leadership after senators voted to install Alan Peter Cayetano as the new Senate president amid the ongoing political tensions surrounding Duterte’s impeachment case.
Earlier, the House of Representatives voted 257-25, with nine abstentions, to impeach Duterte and formally transmit the articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial.
Critics and opposition figures have raised concerns that political maneuvering inside the Senate could affect the pace and direction of the impeachment proceedings. Supporters of the impeachment push argue that the Senate must act independently and uphold accountability under the Constitution.
The impeachment case against Duterte is expected to become one of the most closely watched political events in the country, with public attention focused on how senators will handle the historic proceedings.
