Escudero: Marcos didn't order postponement of reading of impeachment raps vs VP Sara

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was not behind the delay of the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment by the House prosecution panel against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Senate, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Monday. 

At a press conference, Escudero explained that the decision came after the Legislative-Executive Development Council (LEDAC) meeting on Thursday, May 29, upon consultation with some senators. 

“No, it did not,” the Senate President said when asked if the suspension was a directive from Marcos. 

“I was not even able to tell Martin, the Speaker, about that. He found out through the letter that I sent him,” he added. 

Escudero also said the delay has nothing to do with his bid to continue his Senate leadership in the 20th Congress. 

“I don’t see the connection whatsoever. No…It has nothing to do, especially given the fact that the 20th Congress will have a totally different composition,” he said.

Last week, Escudero announced that the reading of impeachment raps against Duterte would be moved from June 2 to June 11, as the Congress needs to prioritize the passage of the items in the administration's legislative agenda before the 19th Congress adjourned sine die on June 14.

He said that the Senate’s convening as an impeachment court may proceed also on June 11. 

“June 11, ipe-present ng Kamara ang Articles of Impeachment—paguusapan, pagde-debatihan, at kung wala ay ire-refer ‘yan sa committee of rules na magsisilbing senyal at hudyat para i-create ang impeachment court sa [June] 11 din,” he said. 

(On June 11, the House will present the Articles of Impeachment—we’ll discuss it, debate about it, and after that, it will be referred to the committee of rules that will serve as a sign and signal to create the impeachment court on June 11 as well.) 

“Susumpa kami, iko-convene ang impeachment court, mag-aapprove ng rules, at magi-issue ng summons. Doon magwawakas ang procedure na gagawin sa ilalim ng 19th Congress sa June 11,” he added. 

(We will take an oath and the impeachment court will be convened. The rules will be approved, and summons will be issued. That's when the procedure under the 19th Congress will end, on June 11.) 

With the postponement, Escudero explained that nobody loses nor benefits because even if the Senate convenes now as impeachment court, they still can’t hold the trial in the 19th Congress due to limited time and therefore needs to be passed to the next Congress. 

‘Last delay’

Despite this, Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed concern about the delays in the impeachment proceedings, stressing that the Senate cannot postpone its constitutional obligations any longer. 

“Nakakabahala na ang paulit-ulit na antala sa proseso ng impeachment trial. Buwan na ang binibilang natin. Sobra-sobra na ang paghihintay ng mga Pilipino. Let us all hope this is the last delay,” she said. 

(The repeated delays in the process of impeachment trial are already worrisome. It’s been months and Filipinos have waited too long. Let us all hope this is the last delay.) 

“Any further delays in commencing the trial against Vice President Duterte would violate the Constitution, which clearly states that the Senate ‘shall forthwith proceed’ with an impeachment trial. Hindi ‘kapag ready na,’ hindi ‘kapag convenient,’ kundi ‘shall forthwith proceed.’ Huwag naman sana yang balewalain,” she added. 

(It’s not whenever we’re ready or whenever it’s convenient, but ‘shall forthwith proceed.’ I hope we don’t ignore this.) 

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III earlier questioned the change in schedule, noting that the legislative agenda of the Congress should give way to the impeachment proceedings.

“Meron kasi section or provision in our impeachment rules that gives the directive, that should there be both legislative and impeachment matters, the legislative agenda should give way to the impeachment proceedings,” he said.

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers 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.

There are two petitions before the Supreme Court: one filed by a lawyer asking the SC to compel the Senate to proceed with the trial and another filed by Vice President Sara Duterte asking the SC to block the impeachment, saying it violates the one-year ban rule.

Duterte likened her upcoming impeachment trial to a crucifixion, adding that when she said she wanted a bloodbath, she was referring to her own blood.

“It’s a persecution, some sort of crucifixion. And so when there’s crucifixion, there’s blood. So, it’s a bloodbath, my bloodbath,” she said. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News