Manila, May 18 -- The Senate on Monday formally convened as an impeachment court and ordered the issuance of a writ of summons to Vice President Sara Duterte, setting in motion the chamber's constitutional duty to hear the Articles of Impeachment filed against her.

Acting Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva informed the plenary that the House of Representatives, through Secretary General Cheloy Garafil, personally delivered to the Senate the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte.

Villanueva said the transmittal was made pursuant to Article XI, Section 3, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution and Rule IV, Section 11 of the House rules on impeachment proceedings.

"Earlier today, the Articles of Impeachment were referred to the Committee o...