IMPEACHMENT COURT GIVES VP DUTERTE UNTIL JUNE 1 TO ANSWER SUMMONS

THE Senate Impeachment Court has given Vice President Sara Duterte until June 1, 2026, to respond to its summons.

During the chamber’s regular session on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano informed the body that the summons related to the articles of impeachment filed against Duterte had been duly served at the respondent’s address as of Wednesday. He added that a copy of the summons had also been furnished to the prosecution panel.

“Under the applicable rules, the respondent is given 10 calendar days from the service of summons within which to file her answer. Counting 10 calendar days from May 20, 2026, the last day would ordinarily fall on Saturday, May 30, 2026. However, since the last day falls on a Saturday, the period shall not run until the next working day. Accordingly, the deadline for the respondent to file her answer is on Monday, June 1, 2026,” said Cayetano.

“Furthermore, upon the prosecution panel’s receipt of the respondent’s answer, the prosecution shall have five calendar days from receipt within which to reply, if they opt to do so,” he added.

The Senate chief said he relayed the matter to the body because they needed to discuss the impeachment calendar vis-à-vis the legislative calendar, committee hearings, and session schedules.