Gatchalian: Without TRO, no stopping impeachment trial

MANILA, Philippines - Unless restrained by the Supreme Court (SC), there is no stopping the Senate from proceeding with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte next week.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said the chamber would fulfill its constitutional mandate to try and decide the case, regardless of pending petitions seeking to nullify the proceedings or a potential boycott by the defense panel.

He issued the statement amid a petition for a restraining order filed with the SC by former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez, and a petition for a status quo ante order on the voting numbers to convict, which lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr. filed yesterday.

Asked about the possibility of Duterte's defense team skipping the trial, Gatchalian maintained that the Senate's work continues.