Senators Risa Hontiveros, Koko Pimentel Move So Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Can Take Oath
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The Senate President took his oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court in the trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The postponement of the impeachment proceedings against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte earned different reactions. Presidential sister and Sen. Imee Marcos previously claimed that the impeachment move against Duterte has allegedly lost already.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez called for respect on the decision of SP Chiz Escudero over the delay in the start of the Duterte impeachment trial. Opposition senators Koko Pimentel and Risa Hontiveros maintain their stand that the trial should have been started right away.
Recently, Sen. Risa Hontiveros unveiled the plan of the minority to request the opening of Duterte’s impeachment trial. According to Hontiveros, she and Senate Minority leader Koko Pimentel will move so Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero can take his oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court in the trial against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
Based on a report on GMA News, on Monday night, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero has taken his oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court in the trial against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. The motion of Sen. Joel Villanueva that the rest of the senators will take their oaths as senator-judges in the impeachment trial was also adopted by the upper chamber.
In his motion, Villanueva also said that the impeachment court would be constituted but not yet convened after the oath-taking of the senators as senator-judges. Senate Minority leader Koko Pimentel moved for the Senate to convene itself into an impeachment court in the trial against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. He moved for the following:
- that the Senate’s legislative business be suspended;
- that the Senate already convene as an impeachment court at this very moment;
- that the Senate President immediately take his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court;
- that the Senate President/presiding officer administer the oath or affirmation to all the members of the Senate now present;
- that the impeachment court then call the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte and come up with a calendar for the trial;
- that on June 10, 2025, at 2 p.m. the impeachment court call the impeachment case for the presentation and reading of the articles of impeachment by the panel of prosecutors of the House of Representatives; and
- that a writ of summons be issued to the impeached officer.
Based on the report, Pimentel stressed the importance of starting the proceedings for the impeachment trial based on the Constitution. According to him, the verdict on whether or not the Vice President is guilty on the charge against her will be determined after the trial.
Previously, Sen. Leila de Lima claimed that Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero’s move to postpone Duterte’s impeachment trial proceedings is allegedly against the Constitution.