Jamaine Punzalan

Vice President Sara Duterte announces her intention to run for the presidency in the 2028 national elections during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President (OVP) headquarters in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Duterte outlines her priorities, including governance reforms, public service continuity, and national development. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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VP SARA DUTERTE

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday the Senate could decide not to convene the impeachment court even if the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte were transmitted by the House of Representatives. </p><p>“That&#x27;s a possibility kasi nga 24-member court ito na kung ano yung sabi ng majority, yun ang ruling,” Lacson told the  Kapihan sa Senado. &quot;Divide the House lagi. Kung matalo sa botohan…paano magko-convene?” </p><p>&quot;And kung ganoon naman mangyari, it&#x27;s on them, na sila yung sumagot sa taong bayan kung bakit ayaw mag-convene. Yung minority na talo sa botohan, wala namang magagawa yun eh,&quot; he said. </p><p>Lacson cited the potential opposition from the Senate minority, which is composed of allies of the Vice President.</p><p>&quot;Ina-expect na namin yun eh, na even yung, ah, yung convening of the Senate as an impeachment, i-objectan yun eh. Expected na yun.” </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/5/4/house-justice-panel-sends-vp-duterte-impeachment-case-to-plenary-1137">House justice panel OKs committee report &#x27;setting forth&#x27; VP Sara impeachment</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/sCCvVlKnXGw?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>The senator noted that even if the court were convened, trial would not immediately start since there were processes for preparation, the issuance of summons, as well as pre-trial. </p><p>“Baka umabot ng July, first week of July, yung trial proper.” But he also noted the trial could proceed even during the sine die adjorunment. </p><p>&quot;Maski naka-break, pwede mag-proceed- yung trial.Kasi independent naman ang Senate. Hindi saklaw ng sine die yung impeachment court. That&#x27;s a different animal.Ang sakop ng sine die yung Congress. But not the impeachment court. Nagkataon lang na yung impeachment court is the Senate,&quot; he said. </p><p>Congress adjourns sine die on June 5, 2026.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/30/senate-may-hold-vp-sara-impeachment-trial-during-break-1243">Senate may hold VP Sara impeachment trial during break</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>FLOOD CONTROL PROBE </strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Lacson said the investigation of the Blue Ribbon Committee on the flood control scandal could continue alongside the impeachment trial. </p><p>&quot;Kaya nga sabi namin, impeachment trial at saka yung session, simulan natin sa hapon para yung umaga natin libre para yung committee hearings, not only yung Blue Ribbon kundi other legislative, yung mga bills pending, magkaroon ng, ah, space para sa committee hearings para ma-report out pag may session,&quot; he said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>IMPEACHMENT MANAGER</strong></div><div><strong> </strong></div><p>Lacson added that because Senate President Vicente Sotto III is not a lawyer, they might need an impeachment manager to assist him as presiding officer.
“Kasi si Senator Zubiri, Majority Leader, hindi rin lawyer. So we&#x27;re planning to appoint an impeachment manager. Ah, tingin namin si Senator Kiko para lawyer,&quot; Lacson said.</p><p>“Halimbawa may mga question of law na pwedeng interpret kasi kailangan kabisado mo yung rules of court, &#x27;di ba? So although ang mananaig dito yung rules of impeachment. Suppletory yung rules of court. So mas mainam na yung merong lawyer doon  si SP hindi rin lawyer.&quot;</p><p>&quot;Pero mas mainam na yung lawyer na sanay sa trial. Para more or less masisi-signal-an niya man lang si SP na yung objection would be overruled or sustained.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/30/house-plenary-may-vote-on-sara-duterte-impeachment-in-second-week-of-may-0950">House plenary may vote on Sara Duterte impeachment in second week of May — lawmaker</a></div><p>— Report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News </p><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/GJDVj4RPheY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday the Senate could decide not to convene the impeachment court even if the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte were transmitted by the House of Representatives.</p>

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson said Wednesday the Senate could decide not to convene the impeachment court even if the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte were transmitted by the House of Representatives.

Lacson: Senate may not convene impeachment court

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Lacson: Senate may not convene impeachment court

ABS-CBN News

Published May 06, 2026 04:07 PM PHT

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