The Senate will not hold an impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte until it reconvenes on June 2, as the chamber adjourned before acting on the complaint, Senate President Chiz Escudero said on Thursday, February 6.
He pointed out that the Senate held the impeachment trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona during recess, but only after approving the process while in session.
In this case, the House of Representatives transmitted the impeachment complaint against Duterte just before the Senate adjourned on February 5, preventing immediate action.
Escudero said the House Secretary General took months to submit the three impeachment complaints filed in November to the Speaker. He emphasized that the Senate must also take the necessary time to review the verified complaints, including checking the signatures of the endorsers to ensure they are not electronic.
He also explained that the Senate cannot act on the complaint immediately because it must first update and put in place all impeachment rules in accordance with the Philippine Constitution.
Escudero also rejected claims that the number of endorsers of the impeachment complaint signified support for House leadership.
The Senate President emphasized that if the lawmakers endorsed the complaints based on their merits, much like in a Senate trial, where senators convict or acquit based on their careful appreciation of the evidence.
HoR impeaches Duterte
A total of 215 lawmakers signed the impeachment complaint against Duterte, surpassing the one-third threshold required to move forward with the impeachment process.
Lawmakers filed three complaints accusing Duterte of misusing confidential funds, engaging in graft and corruption, and betraying public trust—offenses that are grounds for impeachment under the 1987 Constitution.
Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte criticized his colleagues in the House for impeaching his sister, calling the move “desperate and politically motivated.”
He expressed his dismay, stating that he is “appalled and enraged by the desperate and politically motivated efforts to railroad the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.”
The House has elected eleven members to serve as prosecutors in the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Duterte.
The prosecution team included the following legislators: Representatives Gerville Luistro of Batangas 2nd District, Romeo Acop of Antipolo 2nd District, Rodge Gutierrez of 1-Rider Partylist, Joel Chua of Manila 3rd District, Raul Angelo Bongalon of Ako Bikol Partylist, Loreto Acharon of General Santos City Lone District, Marcelino Libanan of 4Ps Partylist, Arnan Panaligan of Oriental Mindoro 1st District, Isabel Maria Zamora of San Juan Lone District, Lorenz Defensor of Iloilo 3rd District, and Jonathan Keith Flores of Bukidnon 2nd District.
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.