A big and serious meeting just happened in the Philippines! The senators, who are important leaders in the government, gathered together to begin something called an impeachment trial for Vice President Sara Duterte.
đ§ââď¸ What Is an Impeachment Trial?
An impeachment trial is like a really important court case where top leaders are put on trial to see if they did something wrong while doing their job. If theyâre found guilty, they might lose their position.
đ What Happened?
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The senators met late in the afternoon, a little after 6:00 p.m..
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They took a special oath (a promise) to become âsenator-judges,â which means they will act like judges in the trial.
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Senator Escudero took his oath earlier and is in charge of this court. Heâs called the presiding officer.
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Some senators like Robin Padilla, Imee Marcos, and Cynthia Villar didnât wear their official robes at first, but they still took the oath.
đŁ A Senator Asked to Cancel the Trial
Before the trial really started, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa gave a speech. He said he wanted the whole impeachment case thrown out (cancelled), because he believed it wasnât following the Constitution.
But Senator Escudero said, âWait! We need to officially start the court before we decide anything.â
So, the session paused for a while so everyone could put on their robes.
â Trial Officially Started
Once everyone was dressed and ready, Senator Escudero said, âThe impeachment court is now open!â
Then, they made some rules to follow during the trial and let more senators take their oaths properly.
đŁď¸ Some Senators Shared Their Thoughts
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Senator Dela Rosa again asked for the trial to be cancelled. Senator Bong Go agreed with him, but said they should study things carefully, and not rush or delay the process. He said, âWe want justice, not politics.â
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Senator Padilla also spoke and said, âLetâs not forget the regular people. While we talk about impeachment, many Filipinos are waiting for help like medicine and better pay. We should listen to their needs too.â
đ§ââď¸ Others Did Not Agree
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Senator Koko Pimentel didnât agree with cancelling the trial. He said it might be against the Constitution, which says only the Senate can decide on impeachment cases.
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Senator Risa Hontiveros added that only the Vice President herself, not the senators, can ask for the case to be dropped.
âď¸ Another Option: Send It Back
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Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said they could also send the case back for more study or deal with it another day.
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He said it wasnât okay to rush into a decision, especially because there’s a rule that says only one impeachment can happen in a year.
â ď¸ Vice President Saraâs Side
Earlier this year, Vice President Sara Duterte asked the Supreme Court to stop the impeachment. She said the House of Representatives made a mistake:
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They ignored three old complaints, then rushed a fourth one, which she said broke the rules.
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On February 5, the House voted to impeach her with over 200 lawmakers agreeing.
She was accused of betrayal of trust, breaking the Constitution, corruption, and other serious crimes.
đĽ A Heated Moment in the Senate
Before the Senate started the trial, something unexpected happened:
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Senator Padilla got really mad and tried to go after Senator Joel Villanueva!
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They were arguing about when the Senate should meet. Villanueva said now, but Padilla said tomorrow.
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Luckily, Senators Imee Marcos and Francis Tolentino stepped in to stop them.
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A bit later, the two senators hugged and made up like good friends.
đ Whatâs Next?
Soon, the Senate will:
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Read the charges (called Articles of Impeachment)
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Send a letter to Vice President Sara to tell her to respond
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Make a calendar to schedule the trial days
But donât worryâthe real trial part wonât begin yet. Senator Escudero said it will start in the 20th Congress (the next official session of the government).
đ§ Why This Matters
This trial is a very big deal. It could decide the future of Vice President Sara Duterte, one of the countryâs highest leaders. The senators want to make sure they follow the law, listen to the people, and make the right choiceâfair and square.
