Amended rules now allow other senators to preside over impeachment trials

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MANILA, Philippines — The Senate has amended the rules of impeachment that would allow another senator to be elected by a majority vote of members present as presiding officer of the impeachment court.

Senate Resolution No. 430 amended Rule II of the existing rules of procedure on impeachment trials, which explicitly states that the Senate president should preside in all other cases of impeachment, except when the president of the Philippines is on trial.

In the case of the president of the Philippines, the trial would be presided over by the chief justice of the Supreme Court.

The amended provision, as proposed in the resolution, still designates the Senate president as the presiding officer “unless the Senate, by a majority vote of the members present, elects another senator as the presiding officer.”