IMPEACHMENT WATCH: Senate Sets Trial Timeline for Vice President Sara Duterte
Manila, Philippines – The Senate has released the proposed timetable for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, reflecting Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s formal communication to all involved parties earlier this year.
In an official letter dated 19 May 2025, addressed to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Senate President Escudero confirmed that the Senate is prepared to receive the panel of House prosecutors at 4:00 PM on June 2, 2025, for the formal presentation and reading of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Duterte.
“As stated in our letter dated February 24, 2025, the Senate shall expect the prosecution to read the seven charges under the Articles of Impeachment in open session,” Escudero wrote.
The next day, June 3, 2025, the Senate will convene as an Impeachment Court, with incumbent Senator-judges taking their oaths at 9:00 AM. The issuance of summons is scheduled for June 4, 2025.
Reception of pleadings will take place between June 14 to 24, followed by a pre-trial period from June 24 to July 25, 2025.
Coinciding with the opening of the new Congress, the inaugural session of the Senate of the 20th Congress will be held on July 28, 2025 at 10:00 AM, followed by the President’s State of the Nation Address in a joint session of Congress at 4:00 PM.
On July 29, newly elected Senator-judges are expected to take their oaths before the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court at 9:00 AM, followed by a plenary session at 3:00 PM.
The impeachment trial proper is set to officially begin on July 30, 2025, and will run from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
This sequence of events underscores the Senate’s adherence to procedural integrity and its readiness to fulfill its constitutional duty as an impeachment court. The trial of Vice President Duterte is expected to be one of the most closely watched political processes in recent history.
