Impeach raps vs. VP Sara eyed to be read on June 2; Impeachment court to convene on June 3

Senate President Francis ''Chiz" Escudero has informed House Speaker Martin Romualdez that the Senate is ready to receive the House of Representatives panel of prosecutors for the reading of impeachment charges against Vice President Sara Duterte on June 2, 2025.

"Pursuant to Rule I of the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials, we would like to inform your good office that, having taken proper order on the impeachment of Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte, the Senate shall be ready to receive the House of Representatives panel of prosecutors at 4 o'clock in the afternoon of June 2, 2025," Escudero told Romualdez in a letter sent to the Speaker's office.

BREAKING NEWS: Senate President Francis Joseph Escudero, sumulat na sa Kamara para sa pagko-convene ng Senado bilang impeach court sa June 3, 2025. | via @nimfaravelo pic.twitter.com/Txwuqha2Sa

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) May 21, 2025

"As stated in our letter dated February 24, 2025, the Senate shall expect the prosecution to read the seven charges under the Articles of Impeachment in open session," Escudero added in his letter.

Escudero also said that the Senate will convene as an impeachment court the following day, June 3, 2025.

"Thereafter, the Senate shall be convened as an impeachment court at 9 o'clock in the morning of June 3, 2025 for the purpose of issuing the summons and such other relevant orders," said Escudero.

Romualdez, in a separate statement, confirmed receipt of Escudero’s letter and said he will pass the communication to the House prosecutors.

In another Zoom interview, San Juan City Representative Belle Zamora said only five of the prosecutors will be present on June 2 because others are still abroad attending to personal commitments.

Aside from Zamora, expected to be present are representatives Romeo Acop of Antipolo, Keith Flores of Bukidnon, Rodge Gutierrez of 1-Rider party-list and Arnan Panaligan of Oriental Mindoro.

“We will read the articles of impeachment on June 2 as stated in their letter. In fact, as of that time, they are not yet constituted as an impeachment court. Their letter states they will only constitute themselves as an impeachment court on June 3,” Zamora said.

Impeached

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 congressmen endorsing the complaint against her. She was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

Escudero earlier released an initial timetable for the procedures related to the impeachment trial of Duterte with the tentative start of the trial on July 30.

The Vice President, for her part, said she is looking forward to her impeachment trial in the upcoming 20th Congress because she “wants a bloodbath,'' noting that her legal team is on "full throttle" in their preparations. —VAL/RSJ, GMA Integrated News