MANILA — House Deputy Speaker and La Union 1st District Rep. Paolo Ortega on Sunday expressed confidence that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will proceed as scheduled despite leadership disputes currently unfolding in the Senate, which is set to act as the impeachment court.

In a media report, Ortega said he is hopeful that tensions in the upper chamber will ease before the trial begins on July 6, 2026.

“When the dust settles, kapag nawala na itong bangayan, nagka-igihan na sila o nagka-usap, umpisahan na natin itong impeachment na trial. Kung ano man ang resulta niyan, importante po masagot yung tanong ng taong bayan,” he said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

“At the end of the day, ang importante ay ma-resolve nila yung issues. Kahit si Senator Alan Cayetano, sinabi niya na ‘forthwith’ ang impeachment, so wala rin akong nakikitang rason na hindi masunod yung calendar na July 6,” Ortega added.

After he was installed as Senate President last May, Cayetano earlier assured that the Senate would convene as an impeachment court “forthwith” upon receipt of the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives.

However, with a recent shake-up in the Senate, Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian—recognized by a 12-member bloc as acting Senate President—said he would preside over the impeachment proceedings.

Ortega said he believes internal disputes in the Senate will eventually be resolved.

“Gusto namin talaga ma-resolve na nila yung internal issues nila […] Umaasa kami na magkakaroon ng peaceful na resolution ‘to, sana sa mas lalong madaling panahon po makapag-usap na sila,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Senate President Franklin Drilon said the impeachment trial can proceed even with only 12 senators present, noting that a smaller number is sufficient for quorum during proceedings.

“’Yung 16 ay kailangan lamang sa judgement of conviction. Sa pang araw-araw na paglilitis ng impeachment trial, hindi kailangan ang 16. Ang kailangan ay quorum lamang. Ang quorum sa Senado siya rin ang quorum sa impeachment court. Kaya hindi pwede na walang 16 dahil ang quorum sa ngayon ay tinatanggap na 12 lang,” he said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB.

Vice President Sara Duterte, through her legal team, filed on June 1 her answer to the Articles of Impeachment, describing them as “constitutionally infirm, procedurally defective, and substantively deficient,” and seeking dismissal of the case.

Ortega said the defense position should not delay the proceedings.

“Hindi pwedeng maging rason o kahit anong cause of delay o kahit anong cause ng pagaantala na hindi matuloy yung impeachment. So kahit ano man opinyon ng Office of the Vice President or nung defense team, hindi po magiging hadlang para ituloy yung calendar ng impeachment,” he said.