Sara Duterte to be in Malaysia for ‘personal trip’

Amid the Senate’s preparation to convene as an impeachment court, the Office of the Vice President on Tuesday confirmed that Vice President Sara Duterte is travelling to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for a personal trip with her family. 

While in Malaysia, the OVP said that Duterte is scheduled to attend the Independence Day celebration and engage in a program consultation with overseas Filipino workers on June 12.

Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday night took his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court in the trial of Duterte. 

The Senate also adopted Senator Joel Villanueva's motion that the rest of the senators take their oaths as senator-judges in the impeachment trial at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

After the senators take their oaths, the court would be constituted but not yet convened, Villanueva said in his motion, which was approved.

The Senate also voted unanimously to refer the verified impeachment complaint against Duterte to the committee on rules.

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. — AOL, GMA Integrated News