SENATE President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has denied the request of the House prosecution team to direct Vice President Sara Duterte to answer the Articles of Impeachment filed against her.
In a media forum, Escudero said summoning Duterte to respond to the impeachment complaints cannot be done legally since Congress is currently not in session.
“Hindi po siya pupuwede dahil walang sesyon ang Senado. Na-present na ba nila ‘yung Articles of Impeachment on plenary? Na-convene na ba ‘yung court? E, hindi pa naman, e. Edi hindi pa rin pwede yung ganon,” Escudero said.
“Kahit naman makumbinsi mo ako, illegal pa rin yun, e, so hindi ko gagawin. I will not do anything that is illegal. Unless a special session is called, which I doubt,” he added.
Escudero said he would rather be more prudent and more closely faithful to what the law provides than go through the experimental procedures, which may later be used as a weapon by the accused to question the process before the Supreme Court.
A total of 240 House lawmakers supported the impeachment of Duterte, which revolves around six major allegations, each linked to alleged violations of the 1987 Constitution, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and other laws.
It includes VP Duterte’s involvement in a conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., his wife, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez; the malversation of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds from the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education (DepEd) during her tenure as secretary from 2022 to 2024; and bribery and corruption within the DepEd.
Also cited in the complaints were VP Duterte’s unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets, her involvement in extrajudicial killings, particularly during her time as the Mayor of Davao City, and for engaging in destabilization, insurrection, and public disorder.
Based on the proposed calendar of impeachment trial released by Escudero earlier, the start of the trial was set for July 30, 2025.
The presentation of the Articles of Impeachment by the prosecutors, which is composed of lawmakers from the House of Representatives as well as the approval of the revised rules of procedure on impeachment trials, was scheduled for June 2, the resumption of sessions of the 19th Congress.
On June 3, the impeachment court will convene, and the incumbent senators serving as judges in the trial will take their oath, while the issuance of summons is scheduled for June 4.
The reception of pleadings will take place from June 14 to 24 while the pre-trial will start on June 24 to July 25.
On July 28, the Senate and the Congress will inaugurate the 20th Congress and they will hear the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the afternoon.
The newly elected senators will take their oath as the trial’s judges on July 29. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)