The Senate convened as an impeachment court on Monday and issued a writ of summons to Vice President Sara Duterte.

A total of 23 members of the Senate of the Philippines took their oath as the Senator judges of the impeachment trial.

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms is directed to serve the written summons on Duterte, along with a copy of the articles of impeachment.

"The court having been organized, and the articles of impeachment having been presented, let a writ of summons be issued to the Vice President, Sara Zimmerman Duterte, who is directed to file her answer within a non-extendable period of 10 (calendar) days from receipt, pursuant to Article Seven of the Rules of Procedure of Impeachment Trial," he said.

"She is directed to appear before the session hall of the Senate of the Philippines upon notice," he added.

The House of Representatives alleged that Duterte, who was impeached for the second time, is guilty of plunder and graft in misusing confidential funds, having unexplained wealth and of conspiracy to commit murder and threaten to have President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Lisa Araneta Marcos and then Speaker Martin Romualdez if she is killed.

Basically the same charges led the House to impeach Duterte on 2025 but the Senate was not able to convene as an impeachment court.

Meanwhile, Cayetano noted that "the prosecution may file a reply within a non-extendable period of five (calendar) days from receipt of the answer."

Cayetano said the trial proper shall commence on a schedule agreed by the impeachment court which the party shall be duly notified.

"We will fix the calendar together in pursuit of impartial justice," he said.

"We will come up with an impeachment calendar that is fair to the prosecution and to the defense and will allow us to continue to function in the legislative side of our work," he added.

The Articles of Impeachment against Duterte was formally transmitted by the House of Representative to the Senate on the night of May 13, 2026. Robina Asido/PHS