VICE President Sara Duterte has flown to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for a personal trip with her family, just a day before her impeachment trial is set to begin in the Senate.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) confirmed Duterte’s travel, stating that she is scheduled to attend the Philippine Independence Day celebration in Malaysia on June 12 and meet with overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for an OVP-led program consultation.
The OVP did not confirm the exact date of her departure, but sources suggest she may have left on Tuesday, June 10, ahead of the official start of impeachment proceedings on June 11.
The Senate will formally convene as an impeachment court on Wednesday, following the oath-taking of Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero as presiding officer on June 9.
The move came after a heated session between pro-Duterte and pro-impeachment senators. The rest of the senator-judges are expected to take their oath during Tuesday’s plenary session.
Duterte faces seven Articles of Impeachment, including allegations of threatening the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The charges also cite sedition, betrayal of public trust, and misuse of public funds.
The House of Representatives approved the Articles of Impeachment on February 5 and transmitted them to the Senate on the same day.
Despite pressure, Escudero initially declined to call a special session over the legislative break, but was compelled by the Senate minority bloc on Monday to proceed with the trial.