Chiz Escudero: ‘No impeachment trial for Sara while Congress is in recess’
Senate President Chiz Escudero has clarified the possibility of an impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte. According to him, the trial is unlikely to proceed due to the current recess of Congress.
In a forum called Kapihan sa Senado, Escudero explained that a trial cannot be held in the Senate because the impeachment court has not yet been formed. He said that the Articles of Impeachment passed by the House have not yet been passed in plenary.
“Legally, it cannot be done. The impeachment court has not been formed because the complaint was not referred to the plenary,” Escudero clarified. According to him, if the proper process has not yet been followed, the Senate’s actions as an impeachment court cannot begin.
The Senate President added, “Without that step, the Senate, as a legislative body, cannot yet act as an impeachment court.” This means that the proper steps must first be taken to conduct a formal trial in the Senate.
The Senate adjourned on Wednesday night without discussing the Articles of Impeachment passed by the House against VP Duterte. According to Senate Secretary Renato Bantug, the document was received at 5:49 p.m., but was not presented to the plenary before the Senate adjourned at 7 p.m. As a result, the Senate has not yet reached the point where it will have a formal discussion on it.
The impeachment complaint against VP Sara Duterte was signed by 215 congressmen, and among its signatories, some are hoping that it will be brought to the Senate to begin the impeachment process. But at present, according to Escudero, no action can proceed on it due to procedural issues.
In the coming weeks, expect additional developments on this matter, and the situation may change depending on how members of Congress and the Senate contribute to the impeachment matter. But for now, it is clear that the impeachment trial cannot proceed until the necessary steps under the law are followed.
