Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero sees no reason to request a special session for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, as previous impeachment cases were not expedited.
In a Super Radyo dzBB interview on Sunday, February 09, Escudero said he has not received any requests from the Senate, proponents, and critics of Duterte’s impeachment, which keeps him unconcerned as Congress is still on recess.
He added that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has also not indicated any plans to convene a special session to address Duterte’s impeachment trial.
“Hindi espesyal si Vice President Sara Duterte. Hindi espesyal ang posisyon ng Vice President para ‘yung sa kanya madaliin namin, sa Chief Justice hindi, sa Ombudsman hindi. Pare-pareho lamang silang impeachable officers na sa ilalim ng Konstitusyon ay dapat tratuhin din ng pare-parehas—walang labis, walang kulang, walang nakakalamang, walang naaapi,” Escudero said.
“Pero siyempre ‘pag nagpatawag ang Pangulo, anong gagawin namin? Eh ‘di kailangan namin mag-attend,” Escudero added.
In a separate dzBB interview, Iloilo 3rd District Representative Lorenz Defensor said the Congress is not pressuring the Senate to expedite the impeachment proceedings.
He stressed that the Constitution requires “the trial shall proceed forthwith.”
“Ang isang impeachment complaint laban sa isang nakakataas na opisyal ng ating bansa involves national interest. Kahit na anong sabihin natin, nakalagay Bise Presidente ang respondent sa isang impeachment complaint na ito,” Defensor said.
He reiterated the House’s respect for the Senate as an independent constitutional and impeachment court. Defensor also voiced confidence that Marcos would not convene a special session to expedite the impeachment trial.
“Sigurado akong hindi gagawin ng Presidente ‘yun na magtawag ng special session. Hindi rin gagawin ng Kongreso na hingin para ipatawag ang isang special session. Kasi alam kong dapat hindi nakikialam ang Presidente o ang Executive Department sa isang bagay katulad ng impeachment,” Defensor added.
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte last Wednesday, with 215 lawmakers supporting the fourth impeachment complaint against her. According to House Secretary General Reginald Velasco on Friday, 25 House members have also signed the complaint.
The seven Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Duterte include:
- Conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez;
- Malversation of P612.5 million in confidential funds with questionable liquidation documents;
- Bribery and corruption in the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte’s tenure as Education Secretary, involving former DepEd officials;
- Unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), with her wealth reportedly increasing fourfold from 2007 to 2017;
- Involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao City;
- Destabilization and public disorder efforts, including boycotting the State of the Nation Address (SONA) while declaring herself “designated survivor,” leading rallies calling for Marcos Jr.’s resignation, obstructing congressional investigations, and issuing threats against top officials; and
- The totality of her conduct as Vice President. The complaint was forwarded to the Senate, but the upper chamber adjourned without taking action. Consequently, the trial will commence in June, following the May 12 elections. (TCSP)
