Vice President Sara Duterte holds a press conference with the media at the Office of the Vice President in Mandaluyong City on February 7, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III has urged Senate President Francis Escudero to start the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte without delay.

In a letter to Escudero, Pimentel noted that under the Constitution, the Senate is mandated to “forthwith proceed” with an impeachment trial once a verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the members of the House of Representatives.

"The Filipino translation for ‘forthwith’ is ‘agad’ which conveys immediacy. The synonyms of this Filipino word include ‘madali,’ ‘bigla,’ ‘dagli,’ or ‘karakaraka’ which denote urgency or promptness. The above elaboration affirms that it is the Senate’s duty to act on the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte ‘without any delay’ or ‘without interval of time,’” Pimentel said.

“I repeat that this is the Senate’s DUTY. Given the gravity of impeachment proceedings, it is imperative that the Senate uphold its duty with urgency, diligence, and a steadfast commitment to the Constitution. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your response,” he added.

Pimentel also pointed to the official Filipino translation of the provision: “Kung ang pinanumpaang sakdal o resolusyon sa impeachment ay iniharap ng isang-katlo man lamang ng lahat ng mga Kagawad ng Kapulungan, iyon ay dapat bumuo sa Articles of Impeachment, at dapat isunod AGAD ang paglilitis ng Senado.” 

Supreme Court may tackle petition on Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives last week on charges of "violation of the constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes".

Accusations spelled out in the 44-page document include an alleged plot to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, a Marcos cousin.

Sara Duterte says she’s ‘okay’ after impeachment: ‘We leave it to the lawyers’

Last week, the Vice President once again said comments taken from an expletive-filled speech where she claimed herself to be the subject of a plot had been taken out of context.

Sixteen votes in the 24-seat Senate are now needed to deliver a conviction that would bar Duterte from public office, including a presidential run she says she is "seriously considering".

Escudero has said Duterte's trial will probably not begin until after May's mid-term elections -- or finish before the next congress takes over in July.

'Marami pwedeng mangyari': Senate on the hot seat in VP Duterte impeach trial

— With a report from Agence France-Presse