MANILA — The Senate has started discussing possible scenarios and preparations in anticipation of the potential transmittal of articles of impeachment from the House of Representatives, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said.

Sotto said senators recently held a caucus to outline possible courses of action should the impeachment complaint be forwarded to the chamber.

“Pinag-usapan na namin ‘yung mga (We discussed about the) possibilities, if we ever do receive the articles of impeachment, then we discuss the preparations that we need to do,” he said in a chance interview.

He said the discussions covered possible timelines, procedural steps, and logistical requirements, noting that all plans remain dependent on the House’s move.

“All these suggestions and preparations and possibilities of timing depend on whether the articles of impeachment reach the Senate,” he added.

Sotto also assured that the Senate is ready to move quickly once the articles are formally transmitted.

“Kung matatanggap namin, we will act on it forthwith. Sa akin ang forthwith, the following day (If we receive it, we will act on it forthwith. For me, ‘forthwith’ means the following day),” he said.

He explained that the Senate must first be in session to officially receive the articles before it can convene as an impeachment court.

“As soon as we receive it, then that’s the time we will officially decide on what to do with the timing,” he said.

Sotto added that the Senate would need to balance its schedule as it continues deliberations on priority measures while preparing for possible impeachment proceedings.

“17 pa eh, matrabaho pa (There are still 17, so there’s still a lot of work),” he said, referring to pending priority bills under the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council.

He reiterated that all preparations remain conditional on whether the articles of impeachment will be transmitted to the Senate.