Senator-elect Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV on Tuesday pledged to uphold the rule of law and remain impartial once he formally assumes the responsibility as senator-judge for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the 20th Congress.
In a statement, Aquino said he is extending “parliamentary courtesy” to incumbent senators in the 19th Congress to do what needs to be done, so the Senate as an impeachment court can transition to the 20th Congress where he will be serving.
“The Senate as an institution has a duty to try the case and render a judgment,” Aquino said in Tagalog. “As I have said before, we are ready to fulfill our duties and responsibilities as senator-judges,” he added.
Aquino said he would draw on his experience as a former judge of the Senate Electoral Tribunal in dealing with the impeachment proceedings. “In our decision-making, the rule of law and the interests of the people will come first,” he said.
“We are giving the 19th Congress the proper parliamentary courtesy in its last days, but it is clear that the 20th Congress must act appropriately and fulfill its duties,” Aquino noted in his statement.
Aquino, who obtained the second highest number of votes in the 2025 midterm elections, assured the public the looming impeachment trial will show that “no one is above the law” as enshrined in our Constitution.
