Pimentel hits Duterte impeachment delay, Senate majority defends move

Metro Manila, Philippines - Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III sharply criticized the Senate leadership’s decision to defer the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, while majority allies defended the move as necessary to prioritize key legislation.

Pimentel, who has consistently urged his colleagues to immediately convene the impeachment court after the House of Representatives impeached Duterte in February, said the continued delay runs counter to the Constitution’s mandate to proceed “forthwith” with the trial.

He argued that the decision also violates existing impeachment rules, which allow the Senate to suspend its legislative business for the trial—indicating that the impeachment process should take precedence.

“Kailangan i-point out ko, baka nakakalimutan na ng lahat o wala sigurong nakapansin that there is a section there in our existing rules,” Pimentel said a phone interview with reporters on Friday, May 30.

[Translation: I need to point this out—people might have forgotten, or maybe no one noticed—that there’s that section in our existing rules.]

“Huwag ka matakot na meron kang legislative agenda kasi anticipated na ng rules yan. In case you cannot manage your time anymore because you have legislative agenda and you have impeachment agenda, ang dapat bumigay, ang dapat mag give way should be the legislative agenda,” he added.

[Translation: Don’t be afraid of having a pending legislative agenda—our rules already anticipate that. If you can no longer manage both your legislative and impeachment responsibilities, it’s the legislative agenda that should give way.]

Pimentel said he will raise the issue when the Senate session resumes on Monday, June 2.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero had earlier invited the House prosecution panel to that session to formally read the charges under the Articles of Impeachment— a move that would trigger the convening of the impeachment court and the oath-taking of senator-judges the following day.

However, Escudero announced on Thursday that both proceedings will be postponed to June 11, following a meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) where lawmakers and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. agreed to prioritize the passage of pending legislation.

Majority allies defend deferment

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada defended the delay, emphasizing that while serving as an impeachment court is part of the Senate’s constitutional duty, its “primary mandate” is to craft, deliberate, and enact laws.

“The passage of the priority bills should take precedence… Alinsunod din ito sa napagkasunduan sa LEDAC meeting (This is aligned with what was agreed upon in the LEDAC meeting),” he said in a statement.

He emphasized that the Senate is not abandoning its constitutional duty to hear the impeachment case, dismissing concerns to the contrary.

“I do agree to devote the next two weeks to finish the remaining bills and other legislative priorities before converting itself into an impeachment court,” Senator Win Gatchalian said in a separate statement.

Was there a caucus?

Senator-elect Vicente “Tito” Sotto III told NewsWatch Plus that the decision to postpone the impeachment proceedings should have been made during a caucus with a majority of senators in agreement.

“If not, then the members may question that move on June 2nd,” he said.

Sotto is the principal author of the existing impeachment rules which were used for the 2012 trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

When asked whether prioritizing key bills is a valid reason for the delay, Sotto responded, “What can you pass in six session days if it’s not on third reading?”

He declined to give his personal opinion on the matter.

With the impeachment court now set to convene on the final session day of the 19th Congress, the trial is expected to carry over into the 20th Congress—raising the possibility of a Supreme Court challenge on whether such a transition is constitutionally permissible.