Jamaine Punzalan

Senators formally convene as an impeachment court to try the complaints filed against Vice President Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on May 18, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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VP SARA IMPEACHMENT

Vivienne Gulla

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/177995843809320260518-senate-impeachment-court-MT17.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senators formally convene as an impeachment court to try the complaints filed against Vice President Duterte at the Senate in Pasay City on May 18, 2026. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Some House leaders and members warned against allowing online participation and voting in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, saying it could “weaken” the process and may be perceived as “double standard”.</p><p>House Deputy Speaker Rep. Jay Khonghun said it would set a “dangerous” precedent.</p><p>“Anong klaseng halimbawa po ang ipinapakita natin sa kabataan kung pwedeng hindi ka sumipot sa trabaho, hindi ka humarap sa tungkulin, pero pwede ka pa ring bumoto at makilahok sa napakahalagang proseso ng impeachment? Pwede bang tuloy ang suweldo kahit absent basta malakas ka sa boss? Iyan ang tanong ngayon ng ordinaryong Pilipino,” Khonghun said in a statement.</p><p>“Ordinaryong estudyante, empleyado, manggagawa—kapag absent, may consequence. Pero kapag makapangyarihan, pwedeng gumawa ng espesyal na rules? Delikado pong precedent iyan,” he added.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/21/sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-may-start-july-6-1040">&#x27;Forthwith&#x27;: Sara Duterte impeachment trial may start July 6, says Tulfo</a></div><p>House impeachment trial spokesperson Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong noted that in a trial, judges should be able to observe the mannerisms of witnesses.</p><p>“Importante din po ‘yung kanyang kabuuan na disposition during the cross-examination or pag-presentation ng mga evidence,” Adiong said.</p><p>House Impeachment Prosecutor Lordan Suan added that online voting “should not be the norm in proceedings of this magnitude.”</p><p>“Impeachment is one of the most serious proceedings in our government… It&#x27;s one of the grievous Constitutional responsibilities entrusted to public officials, including congressmen and senators. So this is not just ordinary legislation na pwede po tayong mag-appear through Zoom, mga committee hearings,” Suan said. </p><p>“Impeachment is a process that, for me, demands full presence talaga, full attention, and of course, full accountability. So I think that the Filipino people deserve to see their public officials physically present during proceedings, especially this proceeding, this impeachment proceeding that may shape the nation&#x27;s democratic institutions for the next several decades,” he added, but noted that the matter was for the Senate to decide.</p><p>Last Tuesday, the majority’s insistence to tackle Sen. Rodante Marcoleta&#x27;s proposal to amend the Senate Rules in order to allow Senators to vote offsite through electronic platforms triggered senators from the minority bloc to <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/26/minority-senators-walk-out-after-clash-on-electronic-voting-rule-discussion-1956">walk out.</a> The session was later adjourned due to lack of quorum.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/27/palace-no-force-majeure-to-justify-online-voting-in-senate-1333">Palace: No &#x27;force majeure&#x27; to justify online voting in Senate </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/27/-another-battle-minority-to-stand-ground-vs-online-voting-erwin-tulfo-1001">‘Another battle’: Minority to ‘stand ground’ vs online voting — Erwin Tulfo </a></div><p>Suan and House Deputy Minority Leader Antonio Tinio hope that regardless of differences, senator-judges could reach a quorum to perform their constitutional mandate and proceed with Duterte’s impeachment trial.</p><p>“It is a concern, and it is a possibility that we might not have a quorum during the impeachment trial. But I really wish na matuloy ito, ‘yung impeachment trial, para ma-follow natin ‘yung process mandated by the Constitution. Deep inside I still trust that the Senate will do their duty responsibly and according to the Constitution. They will rise up to the challenge,” Suan said.</p><p>“Mandato ito ng Konstitusyon. At tungkulin talaga ng Senado, dahil nasa kanila na ang Articles of Impeachment, na simulan sa lalung madaling panahon, forthwith, immediately, ang impeachment hearings or trial,” Tinio said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/28/-hayaan-natin-siyang-magtrabaho-padilla-renews-online-voting-push-for-dela-rosa-1614">‘Hayaan natin siyang magtrabaho’: Padilla renews online voting push for Dela Rosa </a></div><p>He urged the Senate: “You have to get your act together.”</p><p>“‘Yung bangayan ng Senado ay hindi dapat makahadlang sa paggampan nila ng kanilang tungkulin para litisin ang impeached official. Seryosong bagay po ito. Pangunahing paraan para sa pagpapanagot, accountability, na hindi dapat masabotahe dahil sa awayan sa pulitika ng Senado,” he said.  </p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/27/majority-s-remote-voting-push-can-t-be-compared-to-case-of-de-lima-hontiveros-says-1805">Majority&#x27;s remote voting push can&#x27;t be compared to case of De Lima, Hontiveros says</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5fkMLB-VbRY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J2JpfIgmsHw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Some House leaders and members warned against allowing online participation and voting in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, saying it could “weaken” the process and may be perceived as “double standard”.</p>

Some House leaders and members warned against allowing online participation and voting in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, saying it could “weaken” the process and may be perceived as “double standard”.

Sara Duterte impeachment trial demands ‘full presence,’ House members say in warning vs online vote

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Sara Duterte impeachment trial demands ‘full presence,’ House members say in warning vs online vote

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published May 28, 2026 05:10 PM PHT

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Sara Duterte

Duterte impeachment

impeachment

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