VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial preparations are underway as the Senate sets a timeline for the proceedings, though an all-senator caucus will not be held during the congressional break.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero announced in a press briefing that there would be no all-senator caucus regarding the impeachment trial while Congress is in recess.
The Senate minority bloc had earlier requested Escudero to convene all senators to discuss the upcoming trial against Duterte.
Escudero explained that several senators opposed the caucus, citing busy schedules.
“Tinanong ko yung iba, hindi naman din nila gusto at busy din. How can it be an all-senator caucus when some are travelling and some are abroad. And some are not available and some are not interested. And as I said, kahit anong gawin namin hangga’t walang sesyon wala naman kaming masisimulan,” he said.
(“I asked some of them, and they were not interested and were also busy. How can it be an all-senator caucus when some are traveling, some are abroad, some are unavailable, and some are not interested? And as I said, no matter what we do, we cannot start anything without a session.”)
Meanwhile, Escudero has laid out a proposed calendar for the impeachment trial against VP Duterte.
When the session resumes on June 2, prosecutors will present the articles of impeachment, and the Senate will approve the revised rules of procedure for the trial.
The Senate will convene as an impeachment court on June 3, and incumbent senator-judges will take their oath on June 4.
The trial itself is set to begin on July 30, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Escudero assured that the Senate leadership has already informed fellow senators about the trial timeline.
He has also notified House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and VP Sara Duterte about the Senate’s preparations for the proceedings.
Escudero emphasized that his actions are part of his duty as Senate President and presiding officer of the impeachment court, not due to pressure or claims that the Senate has yet to act on the case against Duterte.