MANILA, Philippines — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has intensified calls for the Senate to prioritize the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, arguing that constitutional duties must override political campaigns ahead of the 2025 elections. His demand follows Senate President Francis Escudero’s referral of Pimentel’s formal request to the rules committee, chaired by Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, tasked with reviewing impeachment guidelines.
Pimentel stressed that preparatory work for the trial should begin “without delay,” emphasizing the Senate’s dual role as both a legislative body and an impeachment court. “Our constitutional responsibility cannot take a backseat to reelection campaigns. The best way to campaign is by fulfilling our sworn duties,” he asserted, challenging colleagues to align their actions with the Constitution’s mandate for trials to commence “forthwith.”
While acknowledging the Senate could theoretically start preliminary preparations in March and defer witness testimonies until after elections, Pimentel criticized such a delay as contrary to the framers’ intent. “The Constitution demands urgency. Any postponement risks undermining its spirit,” he argued, pushing the rules committee to either reaffirm existing impeachment protocols or propose swift amendments to ensure compliance.
The move has sparked debate over balancing election-year politics with constitutional obligations. Senators now face mounting pressure to clarify whether impeachment proceedings will advance amid a crowded legislative calendar and campaign season. Political analysts suggest the outcome could set a precedent for handling high-profile trials during electoral periods, testing the Senate’s ability to uphold institutional duties amid partisan divides.
As the rules committee weighs its next steps, all eyes remain on whether the chamber will heed Pimentel’s call—or let election ambitions dictate the timeline of a historic constitutional test.