SC Seeks Sotto Explanation Over VP Impeachment Remarks; Senate To Hold Pre-Trial

The Supreme Court (SC) appears unhappy with Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s position as it ordered the Senate leader to explain why he should not be cited for indirect contempt over his criticism of its ruling that invalidated the first Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte in 2025.

The high tribunal said on Monday, May 4, Sotto must “comment within a non-extendible period of 10 days from notice of this resolution.”

The SC resolution stemmed from a complaint of indirect contempt filed in February 2026 by a group of lawyers including Ferdinand Topacio and Manuelito Luna. They accused Sotto of “transgressing into the territory of statements that tend to demean, destroy the credibility, undermine the faith of the people in the Supreme Court.”

In a separate interview on dzBB, Sotto said the Senate plans to mandate a pre-trial should the impeachment complaint against Duterte reach the chamber, to prevent a chaotic and drawn-out proceeding.

Drawing from the lessons of the 2012 trial of former chief justice Renato Corona, the Senate leadership wants to establish clear parameters before the trial proper begins to avoid evidentiary surprises from the prosecution, Sotto said.

“What I’ll do, based on experience, is pre-trial first before the trial proper. That’s in our rules, which is suppletory (application of) rules of court,” he added.

He emphasized that an initial conference will streamline the process and force both camps to lay down their cards early.

Addressing misconceptions about how quickly a trial should begin once the articles are transmitted, the Senate leader drew a clear line between convening the court and starting the trial.

“What the SC is saying, and what the SC is saying is correct, the impeachment itself is – yes, forthwith – but within reasonable time. What do they mean? They mean within reasonable time – the trial proper,” Sotto explained.

He stressed that his interpretation of “forthwith” is “immediately” when it comes to initiating the process in the Senate, but procedural due process must still be observed.

“You cannot ‘forthwith’ the day it’s transmitted... I plan to convene the impeachment court. I-convene only. Pero the trial proper will take some time because there are preparations,” he added.

Before any trial proper begins, Sotto said the Senate must first send a copy of the Articles of Impeachment to Duterte and her team, give them a couple of days to respond, await the prosecution’s reply and conduct a pre-trial conference.

Meanwhile, Sen. Erwin Tulfo dismissed speculations of an impending coup to unseat Sotto, saying the majority bloc remains firmly behind his leadership and that the chamber cannot afford political infighting while the nation grapples with severe socioeconomic issues.

He was reacting to a warning from former Senate president Koko Pimentel that a coup is possible if a supermajority decides to force a “legally flawed” motion to halt the trial, noting that Sotto would likely oppose such a move. “I don’t think so. I think they cannot muster enough votes for that,” Tulfo said. – With Neil Jayson Servallos