Metro Manila, Philippines – House Speaker Martin Romualdez has expressed satisfaction with the Senate’s preparations for the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, despite persistent criticisms from some representatives regarding the Senate’s timeline.
“Nakita natin sa pagbisita ng ating House Secretary General sa Senado ang kahandaan ng ating mga kasamahan sa Mataas na Kapulungan. Napakahalaga ng maaga at maayos na paghahanda upang matiyak ang kaayusan pagdating ng impeachment trial,” Romualdez said in a statement on Wednesday, March 19.
[Translation: We saw during the visit of our House Secretary General to the Senate the readiness of our colleagues in the Upper Chamber. Early and proper preparation is crucial to ensure order when the impeachment trial begins.]
The House leader was referring to House Secretary General Reginald Velasco’s recent inspection of the Senate session hall, the trial venue, and the Sen. Arturo M. Tolentino Room, which will serve as the office for the 11 House prosecutors.
After the inspection on Tuesday, Velasco told reporters that he was satisfied with the current setup at the Senate session hall, which was the same one used for the 2012 impeachment trial of then-Chief Justice Renato Corona. He noted that he would need to consult with the congressmen regarding any additional requests.
Based on Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s proposed timeline, the chamber will convene as an impeachment court the day after the resumption of sessions on June 3. This will be followed by the issuance of summons, the reception of pleadings, and the pre-trial, with the full trial set to begin on July 30.
“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,” Romualdez said.
Escudero: Take the Speaker’s cue
In a separate statement on Wednesday, House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega once again questioned the nearly six-month delay in the trial since the House transmitted the Articles of Impeachment on February 5.
Ortega raised concerns about why the Senate could hold motu proprio hearings during the congressional break but not fulfill its constitutional duty to begin the impeachment trial. Although he did not specify any probe, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, chaired by presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos, is set to conduct a motu proprio investigation on Thursday into the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte under an International Criminal Court warrant.
“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,” Ortega said.
[Translation: If there is time for other issues even during the recess, why not focus on a matter with profound implications for our country? The Senate has the mandate as the impeachment court, and we expect them to carry out this duty without hesitation.]
In response, Escudero said any committee can conduct hearings on its own initiative during the break but it would need a session to convene the impeachment court.
“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 added.
Prosecution team ready
He emphasized that the prosecutors should take their time to study and build their case, as he, as presiding officer, would not tolerate any unnecessary delays once the trial begins.
Romualdez said the 11-member prosecution team has thoroughly reviewed the evidence and legal arguments of the case.
“Ang report sa akin ng mga House prosecutors, handa na sila na mag-present ng kaso anumang oras buksan ang Impeachment Court (The House prosecutors reported to me that they are ready to present the case at any time the Impeachment Court is opened),” he said.
Duterte is the first vice president to be impeached by the House of Representatives, primarily due to allegations of misuse of confidential funds and threats made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family.
