Ched Rick Gatchalian

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Escudero: Senate verdict on VP Sara impeachment possibly out October 2025

RG Cruz

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1740467056328Screenshot 2025-02-25 141031.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte gestures during a press briefing at the Cybergate building in Mandaluyong City on September 25, 2024<em>. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File </em></span></span></span>MANILA -- Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday said he sees the Senate Impeachment Court handing down a verdict on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte by October 2025. </div><p>He explained that once the impeachment court gets to work after the 20th Congress opens, the actual trial may take about 3 months. </p><p>&quot;Magsisimula ang trial – trial defined as reception and admission of evidence. Sa tingin ko 20th Congress na, earliest will be July 29 magre-resume ang Kongreso para sa SONA on July 28. First day would be July 29. Susumpa ang doseng bagong elected senators, makaka-resume kami sa impeachment court sa July 29 na or possibly July 30 for reception ang presentation of evidence,&quot; he told a press conference in his home province of Sorsogon.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/21/lawmakers-prod-escudero-on-sara-duterte-s-impeachment-trial-1827">&#x27;Constitution, not clamor&#x27;: Lawmakers prod Escudero on Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial</a> </div><p>Escudero explained pre-trial proceedings on the submission of documents and evidence can expedite proceedings. </p><p>&quot;Kapag nag-trial, cross examination na lang yan. Sa pre trial, mag-a-agree na kung ilan ang mga testigo, mamarkahan na ang mga ebidensiya. Naaalala niyo pa ba ang impeachment ni Corona? Ang tagal, boring – exhibit A, B, C, D, E – A1, A2, A3. Hindi na gagawin yan, lahat yan gagawin na sa pre- trial so walang masasayang na oras at panahon. Dahil dyan sa tingin ko hindi sosobra sa tatlong buwan o dalawang buwan ang trial so by the time na mag-recess kami sa October 2025, tapos na ito at mapagbobotohan na,&quot; he said. </p><p>The Senate president also recalled that the legislative calendar was approved as early as July 2024, where it was stated that the 2 chambers will adjourn by this month for the election campaign. Escudero reiterated that trial cannot begin without the Senate being in session.</p><p>Escudero also explained that even when the Senate resumes session in June, the actual trial won&#x27;t begin immediately since there is time for filing documents and evidences during which the term of 12 senators would end. </p><p>He, however, acknowledges that the question of whether the impeachment trial can cross over to the 20th Congress remains. But he stressed impeachment trial is not like passing laws. </p><p>&quot;Yung pangatlo lang pinag-aaralan namin ng matindi, yung pagtawid sa 19th to the 20th Congress ng impeachment. Nai-file nung 19th Congress madedesisyunan nang 20th Congress. Sabi nung iba, hindi pwede ito dahil kung ang batas nga daw kailangan magsimula sa simula pag nagpapalit ng Kongreso, ito rin daw dapat ganun. Hindi ako sangayon dun. Hindi ito batas, impeachment trial ito. Sui generis – class of its own. So huwag nila ihalintulad sa batas ito,&quot; he explained.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="http://&#x27;Constitution, not clamor&#x27;: Lawmakers prod Escudero on Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial">SC asks Senate, House leaders to comment on VP Sara&#x27;s petition vs. impeachment case</a></div><p>He also cited a supposed principle in law of finishing what has been filed and started.</p><p>&quot;Anong gusto ng mga nagsasabing hindi tatawid ito? Pagdating ng June 30, finish or not finish, para kaming grade three pass your paper? Hindi pa tapos magpresinta ng ebidensiya ang prosekusiyon at depensa, pagbobotohan na namin? Hindi pa tapos magpresinta ng ebidensiya ang prorekisyon at depensa, idi-dismiss namin dahil lamang June 30 na? Hindi ba dapat anuman ang sinimulan ay dapat tapusin?&quot; Escudero said.</p><p>Finally, he said even cases can be endorsed from the current congress to the next, based in a precedent.</p><p>&quot;Ang senate electoral tribunal, ito ang nagdidinig ng mga protesta sa eleksiyon sa mga senador. Tumatawid yan ng Kongreso, 19th nai-file hindi pa tapos yung kaso tatawid yan ng 20th. Nagpalit ng senador, nagbago ng miyembro sa sec, nagpalit ng justice, nagbago ng miyembro sa Korte Suprema, hindi dini-dismiss ang kaso. Collegiate Court, Supreme Court, Sandigan Bayan, Court of Appeals – hindi rin dini-dismiss ang kaso porke’t nagpalit ng mga mahistrado tuloy lang ang kaso. Mas malala pa nga yung sa RTC, yung RTC isang judge lang yun hindi maraming judge. Kapag nag-retire, na-promote o namatay yung judge, lahat ba ng kasong pending sa husgado niya dismissed? Kailangan bang i-file ulit? Hindi diba?&quot; Escudero pointed out.</p><p>He said all proceedings in the country is a &quot;court of record&quot;.</p><p>Escudero remains against calling a special session for an impeachment trial. </p><p>&quot;Hindi niya sinabing mag-call ako ng special session. Ang sinabi niya, magtawag daw ako ng caucus. Ang sagot ko kahit na breakfast, lunch, dinner o meryenda caucus yan wala kaming pwedeng mapagkasunduan kaugnay sa pag-convene kung walang special session o hindi namin hihintayin ang June 2. Pangalawa, sangayon sa Konstitusyon, pwede lamang magpatawag ang Senate President ng special session kapag hiniling ko sa Majority Leader at pumayag siya. Sa Minority Leader, kay Koko Pimentel at pumayag siya at kay Speaker Martin at pumayag siya pero para sa isang dahilan lang, urgent legislation. Ang impeachment ay hindi urgent legislation. Anong gusto ninyo, magbulungan tayo kunwari may urgent legislation magpapa-request ako pero pag-usapan natin talaga ay impeachment. Yun pa lang mali na, hindi ba?&quot; he said.</p><p>The Senate chief  meantime is against making substantial changes to the Senate impeachment rules. </p><p>&quot;Pinagdebatehan namin ng mahaba yan. Bagaman gusto naming i-update yung rules, hindi namin pwedeng gawin lahat ang gusto naming gawin dahil meron nang nakasampang kaso. I don’t want the Senate to be accused of changing the rules in the middle of the game. Baka sabihin ni VP Sara, binago niyo dahil lang sa akin. Huwag na natin bigyan ng dahilan ang sinuman na umakyat at kwestiyunin ito. So ang babaguhin na lamang namin ay ang direksiyong tinatahak namin yung hindi makakaapekto sa kasalukuyang kaso ni VP Sara for future impeachment complaints na para maging mas maayos ito. Pangalawa, yung rules of court, yun din sana ang gusto naming i-update pero may probisyon na sa aming rules na nagsasabi na that the rules of court shall have suppletory application in so far as this impeachment rules are concerned so pasok na dun yung gusto naming pre trial at judicial affidavit. &quot; he added. </p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/19/house-leaders-slam-vp-duterte-s-petition-to-stop-impeachment-process-as-evasion-1811">House leaders slam VP Duterte’s petition to stop impeachment process as &#x27;evasion&#x27;</a> </div><div><strong>&#x27;DOUBLE STANDARD IN SARA IMPEACHMENT?&#x27;</strong> </div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174046814514020250219-escudero-chiz-MT-3.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Senate President Chiz Escudero answers questions from the media during a press conference at a restaurant in Quezon City on February 19, 2025. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senate President Chiz Escudero answers questions from the media during a press conference at a restaurant in Quezon City on February 19, 2025. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>Escudero said congressmen have neither the moral ascendancy nor the legal basis to press the Senate to convene an impeachment court immediately for the trial of Duterte, since the House of Representatives took its time before transmitting the articles of impeachment to the Upper Chamber. </p><p>The Senate chief pointed out that the House rules on impeachment require the immediate submission of impeachment complaints to the Speaker&#x27;s office but the Secretary General also did not transmit immediately. </p><p>&quot;Sa kanila nakalagay immediately e dalawa’t kalahating buwan nilang inupuan yung tatlong impeachment complaint. Ni hindi ginalaw at ni-refer ng SecGen sa Speaker. Nakalagay sa rules nila immediately, magkatabi lang naman ang opisina nila. Kung sila nga hindi nila sinunod yung immediately, dalawa’t kalahating buwan ang depinisyon nila ng immediately,&quot; he said. </p><p>&quot;In other words, they don’t have the moral nor the legal basis to ask for it. At bilang panghuli kung pa-petiks petiks sila at naghintay ng dalawa’t kalahating buwan matapos i-file yung unang impeachment complaint bago nila isinampa sa amin. Wala yata sila sa lugar ngayon na madaliin kami pagkatapos nilang magpetiks-petiks sa Kamara nung mga impeachment complaint na filed nung Disyembre pa,&quot; Escudero added. </p><p>The Senate chief also slammed the double standard that critics of the Vice President want when it comes to her ouster.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/18/pimentel-urges-escudero-to-start-sara-duterte-s-impeachment-trial-immediately-1020">Pimentel urges Escudero to start Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial immediately</a> </div><p>&quot;Espesyal ba si VP Sara? Mas gigil ba tayo kay VP Sara? Mas gusto ba natin siyang matanggal kumpara sa iba? Hindi ba dapat kung ano ang pagtrato natin dun sa mga naunang impeachment, yun din ang pagtrato natin sa mga susunod na impeachment. Hindi natin pwedeng baguhin yun kung hindi magrereklamo palagi na bakit ako ganito ang pagtrato, yung iba hindi,&quot; Escudero said. </p><p>Escudero maintained that Duterte&#x27;s impeachment should be handled no differently from previous impeachment cases, stressing that past impeachment trials did not start immediately. </p><p>&quot;Bakit ko sila papakinggan e partisano sila? Fair kami dapat diba? So, balewala sa akin yung opinyon nila pero papatulan ko parin.  Una, nakalagay sa Konstitusyon, trial shall forthwith proceed. Sabi nila ang forthwith ibig sabihin niyan immediately. Sabi ko, teka kung gustong sabihin na immediately bakit hindi sinabi nung nagsulat nung Saligang Batas that trial shall begin immediately. Nilagay forthwith e. But let’s look at the precedence, Corona impeachment finile December 13, isang linggo pa yung sesyon, hindi nag-convene ang Senado. Nagrecess ng Pasko at New Year, nagsimula ang trial January 19. Mahigit isang buwan. Forthwith? Mahigit isang buwan? Walang nagreklamo,&quot; Escudero recalled. </p><p>&quot;Trial ni Mercy Gutierrez, tatlong araw pa ang sesyon ng Senado, ng Kongreso. Nai-file March 23, nag-adjourn ang Senado’t Kongreso, March 26. Inischedule ang trial May 23, mahigit isang buwan din. Forthwith? Bakit hindi sila nagreklamo noon? Walang pumalag non. So kung ginawa ng Senado, ganon. Kung ano yung recess, sinabayan lang, sino ako para baguhin ‘yun?&quot; Escudero added.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jATKw2YVuQY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday said he sees the Senate Impeachment Court handing down a verdict on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte by October 2025. </p>

Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday said he sees the Senate Impeachment Court handing down a verdict on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte by October 2025.