Senate to start VP Sara Duterte's impeachment trial after July SONA

Senate President Francis Escudero announced on Monday that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will likely begin after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.

Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna warned that the trial must start during the 19th Congress to avoid jurisdiction issues if it extends into the 20th Congress, emphasizing the importance of taking the oath and convening the court.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte last Wednesday with 215 lawmakers endorsing the fourth impeachment complaint against her; by Friday, February 7, the number had risen to 240.

Duterte's team has been preparing for the trial, and she reaffirmed in a press conference on Friday that she does not plan to resign from her position despite ongoing proceedings.

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino agreed with Azcuna that convening would signal the start of the trial proper, while Escudero maintained that the Senate already has jurisdiction over the case's subject matter.

Documents of Duterte's impeachment were received by the Senate Secretariat from the House of Representatives on February 5, Congress' last day before the midterm elections on May 12.