Manila, May 22 -- House Committee on Justice chairperson Gerville Luistro of Batangas said Friday the constitutional command for the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial "forthwith" means the presentation of evidence, not merely the convening of the impeachment court.

In a radio interview, Luistro said the Senate must proceed to trial and decide only between conviction and acquittal because the rules do not provide for dismissal, remand or archival of the impeachment case.

"Ako talaga (Me), I'm giving my full faith to Senate President Alan Cayetano. Nakita naman natin, nag-convene naman sila (We saw that they really convened)," Luistro said.

The Senate convened as an impeachment court on May 18 after the House voted 257-25-9 to...