The possibility of impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte is raising serious concerns—not just inside the halls of government, but far beyond the country’s borders.
On Sunday, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III warned that such a move could damage the Philippines’ image on the world stage.
“Sana naman huwag,” Sotto said quietly.
Because, he added, it would be embarrassing for the country.
“Nevertheless,” he stressed, “we will prepare just in case. I’m ready.”
Despite his reservations, Sotto made it clear that the Senate would fulfill its constitutional duty if the impeachment complaints reach the upper chamber, which serves as the impeachment court.
And preparations, he said, are already in place.
If trials move forward, Sotto revealed that he has mapped out a schedule to ensure Senate work doesn’t grind to a halt. Lawmaking would continue in the mornings—from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.—while impeachment proceedings would take place in the afternoons, starting at 3 p.m.
In the very remote chance that both the President and Vice President face impeachment at the same time, Sotto proposed splitting trial days between them.
“One on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The other on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” he explained.
He believes most senators would agree to such an arrangement.
Once the Senate officially receives articles of impeachment, action would follow quickly.
According to Sotto, the complaints would be referred to the Committee on Rules, which would finalize procedures before returning the matter to the Senate floor. From there, schedules would be set for the prosecution and the defense.
If all steps align, the trial could begin almost immediately.
Meanwhile, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian cautioned that impeachment proceedings against the country’s two highest leaders could deeply divide the nation.
He urged the House of Representatives to tread carefully.
“They must study the evidence thoroughly,” Gatchalian said.
“If this is purely political, it could destroy us.”
Gatchalian also questioned the credibility of former Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Zaldy Co, who is expected to testify in the impeachment case against Marcos.
“If he really wanted to help,” Gatchalian said bluntly, “he should have come home a long time ago.”
On the House side, Bicol Saro Party-list Representative Terry Ridon said the first impeachment complaint against President Marcos is expected to be referred to the House Committee on Justice within the next two weeks.
However, the second and third complaints remain uncertain.
Ridon explained that the third complaint failed to gain traction due to the absence of a House member endorser, making it unlikely to be included in the official order of business.
That leaves the second complaint—endorsed by the Makabayan bloc—as the only one expected to spark an actual legal debate.
This debate will center on whether the complaint was “constructively filed” and whether it was proper for the House Secretary General’s office to reject it, even though the Secretary General was reportedly absent at the time.
The Makabayan bloc has since assured that the complaint will be formally received and included in the House’s agenda.
As for the impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte, Ridon said proceedings cannot move forward yet.
The Supreme Court must first resolve the motion for reconsideration filed by the House.
For now, the nation waits—caught between political tension, constitutional duty, and the hope that the country’s image, at home and abroad, remains intact.
