Manila: Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Wednesday outlined how the Senate would proceed should impeachment complaints be transmitted to the chamber. "Oo naman (Of course)," Sotto said when asked in a radio interview if the Senate is preparing for the possibility of impeachment proceedings.

According to Philippines News Agency, Sotto mentioned that the Senate could adopt a dual-track schedule to accommodate both legislative sessions and impeachment trials. "Ang gagawin namin, tuwing umaga, 9 a.m. hanggang 1 p.m., Senate legislative. Pag dating ng alas-3 ng hapon hanggang matapos, every day, impeachment court (What we will do is, every morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be Senate legislative work. Starting 3 p.m. until the end of the day, every day, will be the impeachment court)," he said, adding that trial days can be adjusted if more than one impeachment case is calendared.

Sotto emphasized that impeachment proceedings fall within the constitutional authority of Congress, noting that the Senate is bound neither by the internal rules of the House of Representatives nor by interpretations that, in his view, misapply constitutional provisions. "As far as the Congress and the procedure of the impeachment is concerned, sa amin impeachment proper eh (impeachment proper goes to us)," Sotto said.

He dismissed speculation that impeachment proceedings could trigger a leadership issue in the Senate, clarifying that the Chief Justice presides over impeachment trials and that decisions are made by the impeachment court as a body. He said the Senate would act once impeachment complaints are formally transmitted, emphasizing that all proceedings would be carried out in accordance with the Constitution and established rules of the Senate.