MANILA — Senate President Vicente Sotto III said the impeachment trial proper could begin by mid-June once the Articles of Impeachment are transmitted to the Senate.

“Kung matanggap namin, kinabukasan tatawag agad ako na ma-convene namin ‘yung impeachment court. Kinabukasan itself (Once we receive it, I will immediately call to convene the impeachment court the next day. That same day),” Sotto said in a radio interview.

He explained that the Articles would first be presented to the plenary and then referred to the Committee on Rules before the Senate is convened as an impeachment court.

Sotto also clarified that the term “forthwith” should be interpreted as requiring immediate action, disputing some readings of a recent ruling by the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

He said the directive to act “within reasonable time” applies to the conduct of the trial itself, not to the convening of the impeachment court.

According to Sotto, the process would include giving the respondent 10 working days to file an answer, followed by five days for the prosecution to submit a reply, before moving to pre-trial.

“Ang gagawin ko dito, based on the experience, pre-trial muna before the trial proper (Based on experience, we will conduct pre-trial before the trial proper),” he said.

He added that pre-trial proceedings would involve marking evidence, identifying witnesses, and agreeing on facts to help streamline the case and prevent delays.

Sotto also dismissed reports of lobbying efforts to block the impeachment, saying he has not received any such communication and would remain neutral.

“Out of service ang telepono ko… Kilala nila ako. Doon tayo sa neutral lagi (My phone is out of service… They know me. We remain neutral),” he said.

He noted that while attendance of the impeachment respondent is not required under Senate rules, it is still advisable.