Escudero Announces Postponement of VP Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial Proceedings
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President spoke on the postponed proceedings of the Senate regarding her impeachment trial.
Vice Pres. Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives last February 5. Many Filipinos are currently in doubt if there would really be a trial or not. Following the recent announcement of Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero, there are speculations that there would be no trial.
Escudero has previously denied several calls to immediately start the impeachment trial of Duterte. He refused the trial to affect their approved legislative calendar and he also waited for the resumption of the session. Previously, the Senate Chief proposed July 30 as the start of the trial against Duterte.
The reading of the articles of impeachment against Duterte was scheduled on June 2 followed by the convention of the impeachment court on June 3. However, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero recently said that Duterte’s impeachment trial proceedings would be postponed.
According to the Senate Chief, from June 2, the presentation of the articles of impeachment by the House of Representatives’ prosecution team will be moved to June 11. He claimed that the Senate and the House have legislative agenda over 12 measures that must be passed before the 19th Congress ends in June 14.
Escudero also cited that the Commission on Appointments have over 200 presidential appointees to review. His statement sparked speculations on the possibility or impossibility of a trial happening. Sen. Koko Pimentel said he will ask Senate Pres. Escudero about his though processes on the matter.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte spoke shortly about the changes in the schedule of the impeachment trial proceedings against her. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Vice President claimed that it has effect on her. She stressed that her lawyers will be the one who will handle it.
“Wala naman siyang epekto sa akin. Nag-isip lang ako kung ano ang epekto ng delay pero iiwan na natin yan sa mga lawyers namin, sa defense na pag-isipan kung ano ang epekto noon kung meron man,” the Vice President said.
Duterte is currently in The Hague to visit former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. She is with her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, and Sen. Imee Marcos who met her father’s lawyer, Nicholas Duterte. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte spoke on the meeting of Sen. Imee Marcos and her father’s lawyer.