Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Breaks Silence on Postponing the Duterte Impeachment Trial Proceedings from June 2 to June 11
CHIZ ESCUDERO – Amid the questions and speculations, the Senate President defended the delay in the impeachment proceedings versus Vice President Sara Duterte.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is faced with a looming impeachment trial after she was impeached by the House of Representatives last February 5. Supposedly, the articles of impeachment are set to be presented by the House of Representatives’ prosecution team today, June 2. However, there’s a change in schedule.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero previously announced that the impeachment proceedings against Duterte will be moved from June 2 to June 11. According to the Senate Chief, the House and the Senate still have a lot of measures to pass before the adjournment of the 19th Congress on June 14.
Escudero further claimed that the Commission on Appointments still have more than 200 presidential appointees to review. He stressed that the Congress has to fulfill its legislative agenda in line with the move of the Marcos administration to make the government aligned to the demands of the Filipino people.
Pres. Bongbong Marcos previously asked a courtesy resignation among his Cabinet secretaries. He wants to recalibrate the administration following the results of the 2025 Elections. He believes that the Filipinos are disappointed by the service of the government and are tired of politicking.
The move to postpone the impeachment proceedings against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte sparked different questions and speculations. Undeniably, there are speculations that there will be no trial against the Vice President.
Recently, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero broke his silence on the issue and defended the postponement of the impeachment proceedings against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, during a press conference, the Senate Chief stressed that the decision is not favoring another side or disadvantaging the other.
“Walang mapapaboran nito, walang masasaktan… Ang nakuha lang namin dito ay mas mahabang panahon para magawa yung totoo talaga naming trabaho—ang magpasa ng makabuluhang batas,” he said.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero also said he talked to some senators over the matter. According to him, the current Senate could only go as far as the issuance of summons because of the limited time.
“Ang pinakamalayo nang mararating ng Senado ay ang mag-issue ng summons, dahil merong 10 araw para magsumite ng sagot ang nasasakdal at pagdating ng June 30, mawawalan na ng bisa ang awtoridad ang mga prosecutors,” he expressed.
Based on the report, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero affirmed the possibility that the Senate will not convene as an impeachment court but he doubts that it will happen. According to him, part of their discussions would be the presence of an impeachment trial in the 20th Congress in case they will not be able to convene before the 19th Congress adjourns.
“The plenary is the supreme body of the Senate, it gets to decide anything… If ever mag-decide ang plenary today na walang magko-convene sa June 11, in theory, yes but I doubt that,” the Senate President explained.
There were also speculations that the delay in the impeachment proceedings against the Vice President allegedly has something to do with the “reconciliation” remarks of the President. Amid the speculations, Malacañang claimed that Pres. Bongbong Marcos won’t intervene with Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial but wants the process to push through.