Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media, November 25, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA — The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Senate to comment on a petition for the chamber to immediately conduct Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

SC Spokesperson Atty. Camille Ting said the court decided on the matter in its en banc session Tuesday. The Senate was given a non-extendible period of 10 days.

“Impeachment is a nationwide concern that will be treated with urgency because of the gravity of the matter,” Ting said.

In his petition for mandamus filed just last Friday, lawyer Catalino Generillo, Jr. cited the “forthwith” provision in the Constitution in relation to the conduct of trial by the Senate upon filing of the impeachment complaint by the House of Representatives.

Generillo stressed that “forthwith” means “immediately,” “at once,” “instantly,” “straight away,”.

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

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

Earlier in the day, lawyers supporting Duterte filed at the Supreme Cour the first legal challenge against her impeachment, saying it had been unconstitutionally rushed through without proper oversight.

Sara Duterte’s impeachment challenged at Supreme Court

The filing seeks to toss the impeachment and prevent the Senate from proceeding with a trial, citing the lack of time devoted to its evaluation in the House of Representatives, where it was introduced and passed the same day.

SC’s Ting said the matter would be treated with urgency. 

— With a report from Agence France-Presse