Senator Risa Hontiveros is planning to ask her fellow senators this afternoon to immediately start the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a press briefing, Hontiveros said that along with Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, they will request that Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero immediately take his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court on Monday June 9.
This will be followed by the oath-taking of senators as senator-judges.
After the oath-taking, Hontiveros wants the Articles of Impeachment to be presented right away.
Hontiveros emphasized that the opening rites and oath-taking should not take more than an hour.
The senator stressed that the minority bloc will not allow the 1987 Constitution to be set aside in the impeachment proceedings.
The Senate plenary session is scheduled for Monday at 3 pm.
Vice President Duterte is facing impeachment charges in relation to the alleged confidential funds misuse in the Department of Education (Dep-Ed) and Office of the Vice President (OVP).
(Senate PRIB photo)
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.