Supreme Court Petition Seeks to Force Senate to Proceed with Duterte Impeachment Trial

The Philippines is currently facing a significant political event as former PCGG special counsel Catalino Generillo has petitioned the Supreme Court to mandate the Senate to commence the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Generillo's petition, filed on February 13th, 2025, underscores the Senate's inaction in convening the impeachment court and establishing a trial timeline. This inaction has raised concerns about potential delays and obstruction of justice. "The Senate's constitutional duty is to constitute itself into an impeachment court and proceed with the trial without further delay," Generillo stated in his petition. The petition follows the Senate's receipt of the articles of impeachment on February 5th, 2025. Adding to the complexity, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri recently postponed the initial reading of the articles of impeachment, originally scheduled for June 2nd, to June 11th. This postponement further fuels concerns about the Senate's commitment to a timely and transparent impeachment process. The situation highlights the tension between the judicial and legislative branches in addressing the impeachment proceedings, raising questions about the future of the trial and the potential for further delays. The ongoing situation underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the Philippine political system.