SENATE President Francis “Chiz” Escudero denied on Monday, June 2, 2025, the intervention of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the delay of the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment by the House prosecution panel against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Senate.
In a press conference, Escudero said the reading of impeachment complaints against Duterte, which was supposed to have started on June 2, was pushed back to June 11 following a consultation with some senators after the Legislative-Executive Development Council (Ledac) meeting on Thursday, May 29, which includes Marcos.
“No, it did not,” Marcos said when asked if the postponement was a directive from Marcos.
Escudero also denied that his bid to continue his Senate leadership in the 20th Congress was also a factor in the delay.
He maintained that the postponement was brought about by the need to prioritize the passage of the items in the administration's legislative agenda before the 19th Congress adjourned sine die on June 14.
In an interview in The Hague, Netherlands, presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos, an ally of Duterte, expressed elation over the delay in convening the impeachment court.
“Para sa akin, ‘yan ang importante, makatulong sa tao at tigilan na ang pangunguna ng pampulitikang impeachment na ‘yan,” Marcos said.
(For me, what’s important is to help the people and put an end to the politically motivated impeachment efforts.)
“Pero sa kabilang banda...bakit inuurong nang inuurong ‘yung impeachment? ...Tanggapin niyo na, talo na ang impeachment. ‘Yun lang ‘yun. Kahit ngayon, kahit sa Hulyo pa, talo na,” she added.
(But on the other hand… why is the impeachment being postponed again and again? Accept it already, the impeachment has lost. That’s all there is to it. Even now, or even if it happens in July, it’s already lost.)
Duterte’s impeachment 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 her alleged involvement in a conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand "Bongbong: Marcos Jr., his wife, and Speaker Romualdez; the malversation of P612.5 million in 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 allegations of bribery and corruption in 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 Mayor of Davao City, and allegations of engaging in destabilization, insurrection, and public disorder.
Based on the proposed calendar of the impeachment trial earlier released by Escudero, the start of the trial was set on July 30, 2025.
VP Duterte earlier said she wanted a “bloodbath” during her trial as she likened it to a crucifixion.
“It’s a persecution, some sort of crucifixion. And so when there’s crucifixion, there’s blood. So, it’s a bloodbath, my bloodbath,” VP Duterte said. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)