Manila: Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday urged the public to remain watchful after the Senate formally convened as an impeachment court to try the case against Vice President Sara Duterte. Lacson described Monday's convening as a necessary institutional reset after last week's tense developments at the Senate, including the shooting incident that coincided with the arrival of the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives on May 13.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Senate on Monday formally sat as an impeachment court after the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte were received from the House and referred to the proper Senate process. The articles were transmitted to the Senate amid heightened tension over the possible arrest of Senator Ronald Dela Rosa who has a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Dela Rosa appeared at the Senate last May 11 after disappearing for six months amid rumors of an arrest warrant from the ICC. He was put under Senate custody and after staying inside the upper chamber's building for several days, he fled on May 14, just hours after a gunfire incident at the Senate the previous night. Dela Rosa earlier denied wrongdoing and said he would only appear before a local court, stating that an ICC warrant is not self-executing in the Philippines.

Lacson, a former Philippine National Police chief, earlier warned that abuses of power have limits following the incident. "Arrogance of power, like impunity, has its limits," he said. The senator emphasized that continued public vigilance remains necessary as the Senate proceeds with its constitutional duty as an impeachment court.