Allies Fail to Stop Impeachment Trial vs. Sara Duterte

JUNE 11,2025

MANILA, Philippines — Allies of Vice President Sara Duterte in the Senate failed to block the impeachment process on Tuesday, June 10, paving the way for the official start of the Senate impeachment trial.

Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa led the attempt to junk the complaint during a plenary session, citing alleged flaws in the process initiated by the House of Representatives. However, Senate President Chiz Escudero rejected the motion and moved to convene the impeachment court, signaling that the trial will proceed as scheduled.

Escudero Pushes Forward Amid Criticism

Escudero’s decision to push forward came a day earlier than expected, following criticism from several groups accusing him of stalling the process. Many had called him out for failing to act “fortwith” as mandated by the Constitution, prompting questions about the Senate’s commitment to impartiality.

Ironically, it was Dela Rosa’s motion to dismiss the complaint that triggered Escudero’s ruling to formally convene the impeachment court. The senators, dressed in their court robes, eventually took their oaths — a symbolic move that officially transforms the Senate into a constitutional impeachment court.

Allies Fail to Stop Impeachment Tension on the Floor

Originally, the Senate was set to hold the oath-taking and trial opening on June 11. However, Dela Rosa asked to deliver a privilege speech before the oath-taking could begin, leading to delays. This sparked frustration from Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, who reminded the chamber of a prior compromise to proceed without delay.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano intervened, urging Pimentel to yield to Dela Rosa’s request — a move that gave Dela Rosa the floor for his 20-minute speech.

In his address, Dela Rosa claimed the impeachment complaint against Sara Duterte was defective due to alleged delays by the House. He concluded by formally moving to dismiss the case, becoming the first Duterte ally to attempt a floor-level defense.

Allies Fail to Stop Impeachment Drama and Objections

As Dela Rosa finished, fellow Duterte ally Sen. Robin Padilla shouted “Allahu Akbar!” across the chamber in a show of support. Both senators had earlier filed resolutions urging the Senate to junk the complaint entirely — a move legal experts criticized as unconstitutional.

Following the speech, Dela Rosa tried to yield to Sen. Bong Go, but Escudero swiftly suspended the session.

Upon resumption, Sen. Joel Villanueva objected to the motion to dismiss, reminding the chamber that they had not yet constituted themselves as an impeachment court. “We have no constitutional authority, as a legislative body, to dismiss an impeachment complaint,” Villanueva emphasized.

Rules and Procedure Take Priority

Escudero agreed, stating that the Senate must first formally act as an impeachment court before entertaining motions like Dela Rosa’s. After changing into court robes, the senators took their oaths and adopted the existing Rules of Procedure — with Escudero noting that no rule changes were made due to the pending nature of the case.

“We did not change any of the provisions of the Rules because the chair would not want to change the rules in the middle of the game,” Escudero explained.

What’s Next for the Impeachment Case?

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is now officially underway, with her allies failing in their initial bid to kill the case before trial proceedings could begin. As the Senate transitions into its role as an impeachment court, political watchers anticipate high-stakes debates, constitutional arguments, and a media spotlight on what could become one of the most significant political trials in recent Philippine history.

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