RULESOFPROCEDUREONIMPEACHMENTTRIALSINTHESENATEOFTHEPHILIPPINES

I.WhentheSenatereceivesarticlesofimpeachmentagainstanyperson,theSenatePresident
shallinformtheHouseofRepresentativesthattheSenateshalltakeproperorderonthesubject
ofimpeachmentandshallbereadytoreceivetheprosecutorsonsuchtimeanddateasthe
Senatemayspecify.

II.UponsucharticlesbeingpresentedtotheSenate,theSenateshall,at2o'clockinthe
afternoonoftheday(exceptSaturdayandSunday)followingsuchpresentation,orsoonerif
orderedbytheSenate,proceedtotheconsiderationofsucharticles.Itshallcontinueinsession
fromdaytoday(exceptSaturdayandSunday)afterthetrialshallcommence(unlessotherwise
orderedbytheSenate)untilfinaljudgmentshallberendered,andsomuchlongerasmay,inits
judgment,beneedful.Beforeproceedingtotheconsiderationofthearticlesofimpeachment,the
PresidingOfficershalladministertheoathhereinafterprovidedtotheMembersoftheSenate
thenpresentandtotheotherMembersoftheSenateastheyshallappear,whosedutyitshallbe
totakethesame.

III.WhenthePresidentofthePhilippinesshallbeimpeached,theChiefJusticeoftheSupreme
Courtshallpreside,otherwisetheSenatePresidentshallpresideinallothercasesof
impeachment.InacaserequiringthesaidChiefJusticetopreside,noticeshallbegiventohim
bytheSenatePresidentofthetimeandplacefixedfortheconsiderationofthearticlesof
impeachment,asaforesaid,witharequesttoattendandthesaidChiefJusticeshallbe
administeredandoathbytheSenatePresidentandshallpresideovertheSenateduringthe
considerationofsaidarticlesanduponthetrialofthepersonimpeachedtherein.

IV.ThePresidingOfficershallhavethepowertomakeandissue,byhimselforbytheSecretary
oftheSenate,allorders,mandates,andwritsauthorizedbytheserulesorbytheSenate,andto
makeandenforcesuchotherregulationsandordersinthepremisesastheSenatemay
authorizeorprovide.

V.TheSenateshallhavepowertocompeltheattendanceofwitnesses,toenforceobedienceto
itsorders,mandates,writs,andjudgments,topreserveorder,andtopunishinasummaryway
contemptsof,anddisobedienceto,itsauthority,orders,mandates,writs,orjudgments,andto
makealllawfulorders,rules,andregulationswhichitmaydeemessentialorconducivetothe
endsofjustice.AndtheSergeantatArms,underthedirectionoftheSenate,mayemploysuch
aidandassistanceasmaybenecessarytoenforce,execute,andcarryintoeffectthelawful
orders,mandates,andwritsoftheSenate.

VI.TheSenatePresidentshalldirectallnecessarypreparationsintheSenateChamber,andthe
PresidingOfficeronthetrialshalldirectalltheformsofproceedingswhiletheSenateissitting
forthepurposeoftryinganimpeachment.Thepresidingofficer_____________________shall
directallformsduringthetrialnototherwisespeciallyprovidedforundertheserules.

ThePresidentoftheSenateortheChiefJusticewhenpresidingonthetrialmayruleonall
questionsofevidenceincluding,butnotlimitedto,questionsofmateriality,relevancy,
competencyoradmissibilityofevidenceandincidentalquestions,whichrulingshallstandasthe
judgmentoftheSenate,unlessaMemberoftheSenateshallaskthataformalvotebetaken
thereon,inwhichcaseitshallbesubmittedtotheSenatefordecisionafteronecontraryviewis
expressedorthePresidingOfficermayathis/heroption,inthefirstinstance,submitanysuch
questiontoavoteoftheMembersoftheSenate.Themotionforavoteandthecontraryopinion
shallnottakemorethantwo(2)minuteseach,withaoneminuterebuttalallowedforthe
proponentofthemotion.Uponallsuchquestionsthevoteshallbetakeninaccordancewiththe
StandingRulesoftheSenate.TheRulesofCourtshallapplyinsofarastheyareapplicable.
Rulesofevidenceandproceduresshallbeliberallyconstrued.

VII.UponthepresentationofarticlesofimpeachmentandtheorganizationoftheSenateas
hereinbeforeprovided,awritofsummonsshallissuetothepersonimpeached,recitingor
incorporatingsaidarticles,andnotifyinghimtoappearbeforetheSenateuponadayandata
placetobefixedbytheSenateandnamedinsuchwrit,andfilehisanswertosaidarticlesof
impeachment.Withinanunattendableperiodoftendaysfromreceiptthereof,andtostandto
andabidebytheordersandjudgmentsoftheSenatethereonwhichwritshallbeservedby
suchofficerorpersonasshallbenamedintheorderthereof,suchnumberofdayspriortothe
dayfixedforsuchappearanceasshallbenamedinsuchordereitherbythedeliveryofan
attestedcopythereoftothepersonimpeached,orifthatcannotconvenientlybedone,byleaving
suchcopyatthelastknownplaceofabodeofsuchperson,orathisusualplaceofbusinessin
someconspicuousplacethereinorifsuchserviceshallbe,inthejudgmentoftheSenate,
impracticable,noticetothepersonimpeachedtoappearshallbegiveninsuchothermanner,by
publicationorotherwise,asshallbedeemedjustandifthewritaforesaidshallfailofservicein
themanneraforesaid,theproceedingsshallnottherebyabate,butfurtherservicemaybemade
insuchmannerastheSenateshalldirect.Ifthepersonimpeached,afterservice,shallfailto
appear,eitherinpersonorbyattorney,onthedaysofixedthereofasaforesaid,or,appearing,
shallfailtofilehisanswertosucharticlesofimpeachment,thetrialshallproceed,nevertheless,
asuponapleaofnotguilty.Ifapleaofguiltyshallbeentered,judgmentmaybeenteredthereon
withoutfurtherproceedings.

VIII.At3o'clockintheafternoonofthedayappointedforthereturnofthesummonsagainstthe
personimpeached,thelegislativebusinessoftheSenateshallbesuspended,andtheSecretary
oftheSenateshalladministeranoathtothereturningofficerintheformfollowing:"I,
__________________,dosolemnlyswearthatthereturnmadebymeupontheprocessissued
onthe____dayof______________,bytheSenateofthePhilippines,against
__________________istrulymade,andthatIhaveperformedsuchserviceastherein
described:SohelpmeGod."Whichoathshallbeenteredatlargeontherecords.

IX.Thepersonimpeachedshallthenbecalledtoappearandanswerthearticlesof
impeachmentagainsthim.Ifheappears,oranypersonforhim,theappearanceshallbe
recorded,statingparticularlyifbyhimself,orbyagentorattorney,namingthepersonappearing

andthecapacityinwhichheappears.Ifhedoesnotappear,eitherpersonallyorbyagentor
attorney,thesameshallberecorded.

X.At2o'clockintheafternoon,oratsuchotherhourastheSenatemayorder,oftheday
appointedforthetrialofanimpeachment,thelegislativebusinessoftheSenateshallbe
suspended,andtheSecretaryshallgivenoticetotheHouseofRepresentativesthattheSenate
isreadytoproceedupontheimpeachmentof_______________,intheSenateChamber.

XI.ThehourofthedayatwhichtheSenateshallsituponthetrialofanimpeachmentshallbe
(unlessotherwiseordered)2o'clockintheafternoonandwhenthehourshallarrive,the
PresidingOfficeruponsuchtrialshallcauseproclamationtobemade,andthebusinessofthe
trialshallproceed.TheadjournmentoftheSenatesittinginsaidtrialshallnotoperateasan
adjournmentoftheSenateasalegislativebodyandonsuchadjournmenttheSenateshall
resumetheconsiderationofitslegislativebusiness.

XII.TheSecretaryoftheSenateshallrecordtheproceedingsincasesofimpeachmentasinthe
caseoflegislativeproceedings,andthesameshallbereportedinthesamemannerasthe
legislativeproceedingsoftheSenate.

XIII.Counselforthepartiesshallbeadmittedtoappearandbehearduponanimpeachment:
Provided,Thatcounselfortheprosecutorsshallbeunderthecontrolandsupervisionofthe
panelofprosecutorsoftheHouseofRepresentatives.

XIV.Allmotions,objections,requests,orapplicationswhetherrelatingtotheprocedureofthe
Senateorrelatingimmediatelytothetrial(includingquestionswithrespecttoadmissionof
evidenceorotherquestionsarisingduringthetrial)madebythepartiesortheircounselshallbe
addressedtothePresidingOfficeronly,andifhe,oranySenator,shallrequireit,theyshallbe
committedtowriting,andreadattheSecretary'stable.

XV.Witnessesshallbeexaminedbyonepersononbehalfofthepartyproducingthem,andthen
crossexaminedbyonepersonontheotherside.

XVI.IfaSenatoriscalledasawitness,heshallbesworn,andgivehistestimonystandinginhis
place.

XVII.IfaSenatorwishestoputaquestiontoawitness,he/sheshalldosowithintwominutes.A
senatormaylikewiseputaquestiontoaprosecutorortocounseloftheprosecutororthe
personimpeached.He/shemayalsoofferamotionoforder,inwritingwhichshallbesubmitted
tothePresidingOfficer.Thepartiesortheircounselmayinterposeobjectionstowitnesses
answeringquestionspropoundedbyanySenatorandthemeritsofanysuchobjectionmaybe
arguedbythepartiesortheircounsel.Rulingonanysuchobjectionshallbemadeasprovidedin
RuleVI.

XVIII.AtalltimeswhiletheSenateissittinguponthetrialofanimpeachmentthedoorsofthe
Senateshallbeopentothepublic.

XIX.Allpreliminaryorinterlocutoryquestions,andallmotions,shallbearguedfornotexceeding
onehour(unlesstheSenateotherwiseorders)oneachside.

XX.Thecase,oneachside,shallbeopenedbyoneperson.Thefinalargumentonthemerits
maybemadebytwopersonsoneachside(unlessotherwiseorderedbytheSenateupon
applicationforthatpurpose),andtheargumentshallbeopenedandclosedonthepartofthe
HouseofRepresentatives.

XXI.Anarticleofimpeachmentshallnotbedivisibleforthepurposeofvotingthereonatanytime
duringthetrial.Oncevotinghascommencedonanarticleofimpeachment,itshallcontinueuntil
completedonallarticlesofimpeachment,unlesstheSenateadjournsforaperiodnottoexceed
onedayoradjournssinedie.Onthefinalquestionwhethertheimpeachmentissustained,the
yeasandnaysshallbetakenoneacharticleofimpeachmentseparatelyandifthe
impeachmentshallnot,uponanyofthearticlespresented,besustainedbythevotesof
twothirdsofalltheMembers,ajudgmentofacquittalshallbeenteredbutiftheperson
impeachedshallbeconvicteduponanysucharticlebythevotesoftwothirdsofallthe
Members,theSenatemayproceedtotheconsiderationofsuchothermattersasmaybe
determinedtobeappropriatepriortopronouncingjudgment.Amotiontoreconsiderthevoteby
whichanyarticleofimpeachmentissustainedorrejectedshallnotbeinorder.

Formofputtingthequestiononeacharticleofimpeachment

ThePresidingOfficershallfirststatethequestionthereaftereachSenator,ashis/hernameis
called,shallriseinhis/herplaceandanswer:guiltyornotguilty.Ifhe/shesowishes,aSenator
mayexplainhis/hervotefornotmorethantwo(2)minutes.

XXII.Alltheordersanddecisionsmaybeacteduponwithoutobjection,or,ifobjectionisheard,
theordersanddecisionsshallbevotedonwithoutdebatebyyeasandnays,whichshallbe
enteredontherecord,subject,however,totheoperationofRuleVI,exceptwhenthedoorsshall
beclosedfordeliberation,andinthatcasenoMembershallspeakmorethanonceonone
question,andfornotmorethantenminutesonaninterlocutoryquestion,andfornotmorethan
fifteenminutesonthefinalquestion,unlessbyconsentoftheSenate,tobehadwithoutdebate
butamotiontoadjournmaybedecidedwithouttheyeasandnays,unlesstheybedemandedby
onefifthoftheMemberspresent.Thefifteenminuteshereinallowedshallbeforthewhole
deliberationonthefinalquestion,andnotonthefinalquestiononeacharticleofimpeachment.

XXIII.Witnessesshallbesworninthefollowingform:"You_______________,doswear(or
affirm,asthecasemaybe)thattheevidenceyoushallgiveinthecasenowpendingbetween
thePhilippinesand__________________,shallbethetruth,thewholetruth,andnothingbutthe
truth:sohelpyouGod."


WhichoathshallbeadministeredbytheSecretary,oranyotherdulyauthorizedperson.

Formofasubpoenatobeissuedontheapplicationoftheprosecutorsoftheimpeachment,orof
thepartyimpeached,orofhiscounsel

To__________________,greetings:

YouareherebycommandedtoappearbeforetheSenateofthePhilippines,onthe_______day
of____________,attheSenateChamberintheCityofPasay,thenandtheretotestifyyour
knowledgeinthecasewhichisbeforetheSenateinwhichtheHouseofRepresentativeshas
impeached_____________,andtobringwithyouthefollowing___________,itbeingnecessary
tousethesameastestimony.

Failnot.

Witness______________,andPresidingOfficeroftheSenate,attheCityofPasay,this
_______dayof_____________,intheyearofourLord.

______________________________,

PresidingOfficeroftheSenate

Formofdirectionfortheserviceofsaidsubpoena

TheSenateofthePhilippinesto____________,greeting:Youareherebycommandedtoserve
andreturnthewithinsubpoenaaccordingtolaw.DatedatPasay,this____dayof________,in
theyearofourLord____.

_______________________,

SecretaryoftheSenate

FormofoathtobeadministeredtotheMembersoftheSenateandthePresidingOfficersittingin
thetrialofimpeachments

"Isolemnlyswear(oraffirm,asthecasemaybe)thatinallthingsappertainingtothetrialofthe
impeachmentof____________,nowpending,Iwilldoimpartialjusticeaccordingtothe
Constitutionandlaws:SohelpmeGod."

Formofsummonstobeissuedandserveduponthepersonimpeached

REPUBLICOFTHEPHILIPPINES)SS.

TheSenateofthePhilippinesto_______________,greetings:

WhereastheHouseofRepresentativesofthePhilippinesdid,onthe____dayof________,
presenttotheSenatearticlesofimpeachmentagainstyou,thesaid____________,inthe
wordsfollowing:

[Hereinsertthearticles]

Anddemandthatyou,thesaid_______________,shouldbeputtoanswertheaccusationsas
setforthinsaidarticles,andthatsuchproceedings,examinations,trials,andjudgmentsmight
bethereuponhadasareagreeabletolawandjustice.

You,thesaid____________,arethereforeherebysummonedtobeandappearbeforethe
SenateofthePhilippines,attheirChamberintheCityofPasay,onthe____dayof
__________________,at____o'clock____,thenandtheretoanswertothesaidarticlesof
impeachment,andthenandtheretoabideby,obey,andperformsuchorders,directions,and
judgmentsastheSenateofthePhilippinesshallmakeinthepremisesaccordingtothe
ConstitutionandlawsofthePhilippines.

Hereofyouarenottofail.

Witness___________________,andPresidingOfficerofthesaidSenate,attheCityofPasay,
Philippines,this____dayof________,intheyearofOurLord_______.

______________________________,

PresidingOfficeroftheSenate

FormofOrdertobeindorsedonsaidwritofsummons

REPUBLICOFTHEPHILIPPINES)SS.

TheSenateofthePhilippinesto________________________,greetings:

Youareherebycommandedtodelivertoandleavewith____________________,if
convenientlytobefound,orifnot,toleaveathisusualplaceofabode,orathisusualplaceof
businessinsomeconspicuousplace,atrueandattestedcopyofthewithinwritofsummons,
togetherwithalikecopyofthisorder,andinwhichsoeverwayyouperformtheservice,letitbe
doneatleast____daysbeforetheappearancedaymentionedinthesaidwritofsummons.

Failnot,andmakereturnofthiswritofsummonsandorder,withyourproceedingsthereon
endorsed,onorbeforetheappearancedaymentionedinthesaidwritofsummons.

Witness______________________,andPresidingOfficeroftheSenate,attheCityofPasay,
this____dayof____intheyearofOurLord.

______________________________,

PresidingOfficeroftheSenate

AllprocessshallbeservedbytheSergeantatArmsoftheSenate,unlessotherwiseorderedby
theSenate.

XXIV.IftheSenateshall,atanytime,failtositfortheconsiderationofarticlesofimpeachment
onthedayorhourfixedtherefor,theSenatemay,byanordertobeadoptedwithoutdebate,fixa
dayandhourforresumingsuchconsideration.

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