Senator Risa Hontiveros took up the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte during her manifestation of a no vote for Senate Bill No. 2805, or the Act Strengthening the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board.

In her manifestation, Hontiveros underscored that the 1987 Constitution “demands that the Senate continue with the impeachment proceedings already initiated without further delay.”

“Napakahagalang mandato po ng Saligang Batas ito - klaro at walang kalabuan - once we receive the Articles of Impeachment- ‘trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed,’” she said.

“Hahatulan tayo ng sambayanan kung hindi natin ginampanan ang tungkulin na ito sa sambayanan,” she added.

She made the remarks after Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino said that the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte will be “functionally dismissed” if the Senate does not take it up in plenary before 30 June.

"If we cannot conclude the trial before June 30, 2025, we must recognize this impeachment case is functionally dismissed by constitutional operation and no action can be taken by the 20th Congress on the matter for lack of constitutional authority," he said.

“Kahit anong pilit, hindi maitatawid lalo na kung lalabag sa Saligang Batas,” he added.