Overview
- The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, opened the trial Monday under Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, ordered the charges served, and gave Duterte 10 days to submit her answer, with a conviction carrying removal from office and a lifetime election ban.
- The House’s articles accuse her of misusing 612.5 million pesos in confidential funds, hiding wealth in required asset filings, taking bribes as education secretary, and making grave threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the first lady, and a former House speaker.
- The chamber’s balance shifted after Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa resurfaced May 11 to help install Cayetano as Senate president, placing Duterte allies in key positions that can shape the schedule and what evidence gets heard.
- Dela Rosa, wanted by the International Criminal Court over killings in the Duterte-era drug war, vanished again after a tense standoff near the Senate led chamber security to fire warning shots last week, and the government says it will seek his arrest.
- House impeachment prosecutor Joel Chua said the case will proceed even if Duterte does not appear, since the court can enter a not-guilty plea and move to a pretrial to set evidence, witnesses, and issues once filings are in.