MANILA, Philippines — Senator Risa Hontiveros said she will formally move during the Senate plenary session to begin the opening rites of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, emphasizing the chamber’s constitutional duty.

“Hindi naman mahirap at matagal ang panunumpa at pagbabasa ng Articles of Impeachment, diba? Gawa na ang robes, at ready na ang session hall. Hindi iyan aabutin ng isang oras, kaya bakit natin iiwasan ang napakasimpleng opening ng impeachment trial?” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros, together with Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, said they will move for the Senate to convene as an impeachment court and allow Senate President Francis Escudero to take his oath as presiding officer. They will also ask the chamber to administer the prescribed oath to all senators, who will sit as judges.

The Articles of Impeachment, transmitted by the House of Representatives in February, will also be formally presented to the Senate. Under the Senate’s impeachment rules, these steps must be completed before the trial proper can proceed.

“All of these formalities are neither complicated nor time consuming. Opening pa lang iyan. Let’s not pretend an hour is too much to ask, when we have three full days of session left,” Hontiveros added.

She also cited growing public pressure from various sectors—including religious groups, legal associations like the Philippine Bar Association, universities, and constitutional framers such as former justices Adolfo Azcuna, Rene Sarmiento, and Christian Monsod—for the Senate to fulfill its constitutional role.

“Maduduwag ba tayo sa simpleng pagbukas lang ng isang impeachment trial? … Our people would be severely disappointed in us. History would judge us even more harshly,” Hontiveros said.Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday said she will formally move during the Senate plenary session to begin the opening rites of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, emphasizing the chamber’s constitutional duty.

“Hindi naman mahirap at matagal ang panunumpa at pagbabasa ng Articles of Impeachment, diba? Gawa na ang robes, at ready na ang session hall. Hindi iyan aabutin ng isang oras, kaya bakit natin iiwasan ang napakasimpleng opening ng impeachment trial?” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros, together with Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, said they will move for the Senate to convene as an impeachment court and allow Senate President Francis Escudero to take his oath as presiding officer. They will also ask the chamber to administer the prescribed oath to all senators, who will sit as judges.

The Articles of Impeachment, transmitted by the House of Representatives in February, will also be formally presented to the Senate. Under the Senate’s impeachment rules, these steps must be completed before the trial proper can proceed.

“All of these formalities are neither complicated nor time consuming. Opening pa lang iyan. Let’s not pretend an hour is too much to ask, when we have three full days of session left,” Hontiveros added.

She also cited growing public pressure from various sectors—including religious groups, legal associations like the Philippine Bar Association, universities, and constitutional framers such as former justices Adolfo Azcuna, Rene Sarmiento, and Christian Monsod—for the Senate to fulfill its constitutional role.

“Maduduwag ba tayo sa simpleng pagbukas lang ng isang impeachment trial? … Our people would be severely disappointed in us. History would judge us even more harshly,” Hontiveros said.