Atty. Jose Luis Montales took his oath on Monday, May 18, as the new Senate Secretary following the resignation of Mark Llandro Mendoza, officials said, as the upper chamber opened a session expected to lead to its convening as an impeachment court.

The Senate elected Jose Luis Montales as its new secretary after the departure of Mark Llandro Mendoza, who had served in one of the most critical posts in the chamber’s Secretariat.

Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said Mendoza had been urged to stay in his post but had voluntarily submitted his resignation.

“Getting the Senate organized is the priority,” Cayetano said earlier, as the chamber prepared for its constitutional duty in the impeachment proceedings.

The Senate session opened Monday as lawmakers moved toward convening the body as an impeachment court in the case involving Vice President Sara Duterte.

Attendance was incomplete at the start of the session, with the absence of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, while Sen. Robin Padilla was present, days after being tagged by the National Bureau of Investigation as a person of interest in the exit of his ally from the chamber leadership.

The upper chamber is expected to formally convene as an impeachment court once organizational matters are completed.