Senate Secretary Bantug impeachment role is set as he prepares to assist in VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, following his designation as Clerk of Court.
Senate Secretary Renato Bantug confirmed his readiness to perform his duties once the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte begin.
Bantug was appointed by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero as Clerk of Court, responsible for assisting the Presiding Officer in managing the impeachment trial under the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials.
While expressing his preparedness, Bantug admitted that the responsibility would be challenging.
However, he noted that he has prior experience in impeachment proceedings, having assisted the former Senate Secretary and the Office of the Senate President during the trial of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.
In addition, Bantug shared that they have been consulting with other lawyers to gain insights from legal experts with direct experience in trial practice.
He acknowledged that nearly 14 years have passed since the impeachment rules were last revised, requiring amendments to certain provisions to align with the present time.
Under Escudero’s directive through Special Order No. 2025-015, Bantug is also tasked with overseeing the non-judicial functions of the impeachment court.
His responsibilities include recording and reporting trial proceedings, maintaining court records, preparing summons and court calendars, and other administrative duties.
Despite these preparations, Escudero clarified that his actions are part of his duty as Senate President and presiding officer of the impeachment court, not due to external pressure or allegations that the Senate has yet to act on the impeachment case against the vice president.