Ortega says VP Sara impeachment should start if Senate can hold inquiry; Chiz answers 'study pa more'

The Senate should start the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte if it can hold an inquiry despite being in recess, according to House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega.

Ortega made the statement after the Senate scheduled an inquiry on the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte for Thursday, March 20, 2025.

“If the Senate can convene during recess to discuss other matters, then it should also be ready to deliberate on the impeachment case against the Vice President,” said Ortega.

Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero previously said Congress needs to be in session to convene the Senate impeachment court.

However, Ortega claimed that “If charges are leveled against the vice president, our institutions are also mandated to ensure that these charges will undergo fair trial.”

“Justice delayed is justice denied. If we want to keep the trust of our people, we need to show that everybody is equal before the eyes of the law,” he added.

“Kung may oras para sa ibang isyu kahit naka-recess, bakit hindi pagtuunan ng pansin ang isang usaping may malalim na epekto sa ating bansa? Ang Senado ang may mandato bilang impeachment court, at inaasahan natin na gagampanan nila ito nang walang pag-aalinlangan,” emphasized Ortega.

(If they have time for other matters during the recess, why are they not able to discuss other matters that will have great consequences for the nation? The Senate has a mandate to fulfill as an impeachment court, and we expect them to do their job without hesitation.)

Motu proprio hearing

In response, Escudero reiterated that Congress must be in session to enable the Senate to convene as an impeachment court, otherwise it may sabotage the complaint.

“Congressman Ortega should study more regarding the difference between motu proprio hearings that can be done when Congress is not in session and impeachment proceedings that cannot be commenced during recess," explained Escudero.

"Unless, of course, he wants to sabotage their own impeachment case by adding yet another ground for the opposing party to question the proceedings by persisting on his, at best, shaky legal theory that impeachment can be commenced when the Senate is not in session,” he added.

Senate President and Speaker

Escudero also cited that Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, a lawyer like Escudero, is not opposed to the Senate timeline for the impeachment trial which starts on July 30.

“Perhaps he may also want to get clearer signals from the Speaker who is quite satisfied and has never questioned the Senate’s actions, preparations and preparedness,” Escudero said.

“Again, may I advise him and his other co-prosecutors to instead make the most out of this period and study/build their case because when we start, we will not allow any delays whatsoever,” he added.

Romualdez and other House officials visited the Senate to inspect the facilities that will be allocated for the House prosecution team.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to Senate President Escudero and the entire Senate for their readiness and professionalism in handling this historic proceeding. The House has done its part in transmitting the Articles of Impeachment, and our prosecution panel is ready to present the case as soon as the impeachment court is convened,” said Romualdez on Wednesday.

“We trust that the Senate will carry out its constitutional duty and proceed with the trial without unnecessary delays, in accordance with the rule of law,” he added.

The House of Representatives impeached the Vice President last February 5 accusing her of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption and other high crimes

There were over 215 House members who signed off on the impeachment complaint, more than the constitutionally-required one third of the House members needed to send the complaint straight to the Senate for the conduct of the impeachment trial, bypassing committee-level deliberations in the House.—VAL, GMA Integrated News