MANILA — Any impeachment complaint that reaches the Senate will have to go through a long and tedious process before trial can even begin, Sen. Joel Villanueva said.

"Ang unang gagawin, pag-uusapan, kung sasama dun sa reference of business. I think that's the first step. Di ba?" Villanueva said.

"Sige na, pagbibigyan ko kayo. Finile. Finile. Di na lang. Nasa agenda ba ngayon? Wala. Wala. Ilalagay ba sa reference of business? O hindi? Pag nalagay sa reference of business, another step, babasahin ba? Pag binasa ba? Saan dadalhin? Ni-refer ba? Saan nirefer? Di ba ganoon yung process?"

The House on Wednesday afternoon impeached Duterte with 215 members signing a fourth impeachment complaint against her. A copy of the complaint has yet to be made public.

House impeaches VP Sara Duterte

He said his colleagues at the Senate would rather focus on what is on the chamber's agenda for the day.

"And we are not going to anticipate anything na baka bumagsak ang buwan mamaya or mabiyak yung lupa at saan tayo pupunta. Nasaan ang evacuation center. Alam naman namin yung gagawin, na alam namin may evacuation center pag nangyari yun," he said.

"Pero hindi namin pagtutuunan ng pansin na kailangan. Siguruhin ko na air-conditioned yung tutulugan ko sa evacuation center o walang lamok. Hindi, hindi yun ang scenaryo ngayon," the former Senate majority leader said.

SENATE RULES

Under the Senate's Rules on Impeachment Proceedings, the Senate will set the date and time for the consideration of the Article of Impeachment once these are presented to the upper chamber.

"Unless the Senate provides otherwise, it shall continue in session from day to day (except Saturdays, Sundays, and nonworking holidays) until final judgment shall be rendered, and so much longer as may, in its judgment, be necessary," the rules also read.

The rules also compel senators to observe "political neutrality" during the proceedings, meaning they will have to try the case "without unfair discrimination and regardless of party affiliation or preference."

Villanueva said that once the impeachment complaint is included in the order of business, it will be referred to a committee, but that that is only the start of the process.

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"Meron na ba tayong rules? How do you decide on quorum? Meron ba? Wala 'ata eh. Pagka disposition of motions? 'Yan mga 'yan. You have to talk about it, diba?" he said.

"Did you see the rules? Masyadong general." Villanueva said, " Ang point ko lang is, na kasya ang isang libong kalabaw dun sa rules of impeachment right now. That's my comment."

The rules however will have to be decided by the plenary, which adjourns Wednesday for the election campaign.