Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Send Letter to his Colleagues over Impeachment Trial of VP Sara Duterte
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The Senate President released the proposed timetable for the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
The House of Representatives has approved the impeachment of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. It is now up to the Senate on when to start the impeachment trial of the Vice President. There are calls for the upper chamber to speed up the commencement of the trial.
Previously, Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed her hope for a Senate caucus to discuss the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. She also expressed support on the stand of Sen. Koko Pimentel that there is nothing that stops the Senate from tackling the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate and acting as an impeachment court.
Amid the calls to start the impeachment trial, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero recently released the proposed timetable regarding the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the tentative start of the trial is set on July 30.
The Senate sessions will resume on June 2. The Senate President proposed the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment by the prosecutors on the same day. Here is the proposed timetable:
- June 2 — Resumption of session; presentation of Articles of Impeachment by prosecutors
- June 3 — Convening of the impeachment court and oath-taking of incumbent senator-judges
- June 4 — Issuance of summons
- June 14 to 24 — Reception of pleadings
- June 24 to July 25 — Pre-trial
- July 28 — Inaugural session of the Senate of the 20th Congress
- July 29 — Oath-taking of newly elected senator-judges
- July 30 — Start of trial
Based on the report, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero claimed that the impeachment complaint was received by the Senate in the afternoon of the last session day in the upper chamber. According to him, there was no prior notice for the discussion and amendments of the rules and procedures of the impeachment.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero assured that his office is reviewing the existing rules on impeachment although the Senate is on a break. According to him, they have drafted the proposed amendments as well.
Two-thirds of the lawmakers in the House of Representatives signed the impeachment complaint against the Vice President. Previously, a congressman apologized for signing the impeachment complaint against Duterte.