Chiz maintains VP Sara impeachment trial to start in 20th Congress

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Tuesday maintained that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will begin in the 20th Congress.

“Sa 20th Congress tayo. Sa 20th Congress na ‘yan dahil wala nang sapat na panahon ngayon. Hindi namin kasalanan ‘yan. Pinili ng House i-file ‘yan sa mga huling araw, huling oras ng last day namin na alam nilang dalawang linggo na lang ang naiiwan,” Escudero said. 

(We will conduct the trial in the 20th Congress because we don’t have enough time now. It’s not our fault. The House chose to file it in the last days, the last hour of our last day in session, when they knew we only had two weeks left.)

"Trial will commence pag-resume na ng 20th Congress," emphasized Escudero.

Escudero, meanwhile, said that the convening of the impeachment court will push through on Wednesday, June 11.

“Kahit anong mangyari, magko-convene, sa pananaw ko, ang impeachment court… magko-convene palagi ang impeachment court. ‘Yun ang pinagbotohan namin kahapon, ‘yun ang pinag-usapan namin at dapat mangyari ‘yan bago kami mag-adjourn,” the senate president said in an ambush interview. 

(Whatever happens, I believe the impeachment court will convene... the impeachment court will always convene. That's what we voted on yesterday, that's what we talked about, and that should happen before we adjourn.)

The 19th Congress is set to adjourn sine die on Friday, June 13, while the 20th Congress will open on July 28, on the day of the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.  

Marcos said earlier that the impeachment trial of Duterte would surely cross into the 20th Congress.

“Why? What is the controversy? It is very clear that it will. Because there is no way that even if they start the trial now, that they will finish it before the new Senators come in,” Marcos told reporters. 

“So, well… again, the senators will decide,” he added. 

Resolutions filed

Senator Robin Padilla on Monday filed a resolution seeking to terminate the impeachment proceedings against Duterte. 

In his Senate Resolution 1371, Padilla said that the 19th Congress will adjourn sine die on Friday, and thus, "all pending matters and proceedings shall terminate upon the expiration of one (1) Congress." 

Previously, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa also admitted that he was also behind a Senate resolution seeking to dismiss the impeachment case against Duterte. 

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, meanwhile, has filed a resolution seeking to adopt a 19-day calendar to conduct the proceedings for the impeachment trial of Duterte. 

Under Senate Resolution No. 1367, Tolentino said the impeachment trial shall proceed in accordance with the following proposed calendar “in order to uphold due process and ensure the timely resolution of the impeachment case:” 

    June 11: Constitution of the impeachment court
    June 11-21: Submission of answer by Vice President Sara Duterte (10 days)
    June 22: Reply of prosecutors
    June 23: Submission of trial briefs (morning); Opening statements (afternoon)
    June 24-25: Presentation of evidence by prosecution
    June 25-26: Presentation of evidence by defense
    June 27: Rebuttal by prosecution (morning); Rebuttal by defense (afternoon)
    June 28: Oral arguments (1 hour each for defense and prosecution)
    June 29: Closed-door meeting of senator-judges
    June 30: Rendition of verdict

Impeachment Court

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

On the same day, the Senate 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.

Crossover

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. 

The articles of impeachment were transmitted to the Senate the same day, but the upper chamber adjourned without tackling the impeachment case.

Duterte was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. 

Duterte's camp has questioned whether the articles of impeachment filed against her in the Senate in the 19th Congress may be taken up by the chamber sitting as an impeachment court in the 20th Congress.

“Kinu-question din namin ‘yan, ‘yung pag-crossover from the 19th to the 20th Congress,” Duterte said in an interview in The Hague, Netherlands last week.

(We’re also questioning the crossover of the trial from the 19th to 20th Congress.)  —VAL, GMA Integrated News