SP Escudero: 20th Congress to decide on impeachment case versus VP Sara Duterte

He clarified the status of the matter now that it is under the jurisdiction of the Senate.

During a media forum on Thursday, February 6, Senate President Francis Escudero discussed the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, which was transmitted by the House of Representatives the day before.

Escudero revealed that the trial will not begin anytime soon, as the Senate adjourned its regular session on Wednesday.

The body is expected to resume is session on June 2, weeks after the midterm elections in May.

“Para mag-convene ang impeachment court, dapat may sesyon ang Senado. Para manumpa ang impeachment judges, kailangan may sesyon ang Senado. Bagaman ang trial pwedeng mag-proceed kahit na recess, tulad ng nangyari kay dating at yumaong Chief Justice Corona, dapat ito ay masimulan, ma-convene, at mapanumpa ang mga judges kapag may session,” he said.

Furthermore, “Kung may mangyayari mang aksyon o kaganapan kaugnay nito, yan ay mangyayari sa June 2 pag-resume ng Senado, matapos ang eleksyon at pasya yan ng mayorya ng Senado kung aamyendahan ba yung rules, ano ang ilalagay sa rules.”

Escudero also clarified that the Senate will not rush or prolong the case versus the Vice President, a process that began with the filing of complaints before the House of Representatives in December.

“Hindi namin ito mamadaliin pero di rin naman namin ito labis na iaantala. Hindi kami magpapa-pressure kaninoman na bilisan ito o idelay ito. Gagawin namin ang trabaho namin ayon sa Saligang batas bilang pagsunod sa tinatalaga nito at rules mismo ng Senado.”

He also reminded that since the cases were first filed, the lower chamber of Congress had 2 months to review the articles and decide on it. Thus, it would not be possible for Senate to immediately proceed to the trial.

“Hindi naman siguro makatarungan at tama na pagkatapos nilang upuan ito ng ilang buwan biglang pupuwersahin, pipilitin at sasabihan kami ng sinuman galing sa Kamara na, ‘Hoy, bilisan niyo. Ano ba kayo?’ Hindi ganun at hindi ako papayag nu’n.”

In relation to that, Escudero also pointed out that since the articles of impeachment were sent to them on the final hour of their final session day, the case was not referred to the plenary.

“The impeachment complaint was not referred to plenary for there to be a basis for the impeachment court to be convened by the Senate sitting as a legislative body, hindi muna as impeachment court,” the Senate President said. 

“Halos tiyak na yun aabot ng 20th Congress at ang magpapasya na dito ay ang 20th congress at hindi ang 19th Congress,” Escudero replied when he was asked on whether the trial will be finished during the tail-end of the current Congress that will end on June 30.

“Patuloy lamang ang mga kaso maski nagpapalit ang bumubuo ng collegial court na ‘yun tulad lamang ng impeachment court. Lalo na at court of record ang impeachment court,” SP shared his thoughts about the concerns of the impeachment process having to start over again once the next Congress commences.

During a plenary session on February 5, 2025, it was disclosed that 215 members of the House of Representatives voted to endorse a fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.

This number is more than the needed 102 votes or the third of 306 votes needed for the motion to be transmitted to the Senate.

After that, multiple representatives have also been appointed by their peers to join in the impeachment trial as prosecutors.

They are as follows: Rep. Gerville Luistro, Rep. Romeo Acop, Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, Rep. Joel Chua, Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon, Rep. Loreto Acharon, Rep. Marcelino Libanan, Rep. Arnan Panaligan, Rep. Isabelle Maria Zamora, Rep. Lorenz Defensor, and Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores

This development makes Sara Duterte the first-ever Vice President to be impeached by the House of Representative in Philippine history.

---