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Vice-President Sara Duterte speaks to the media at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City on November 25, 2024, while the hearing on alleged irregularities in the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education is suspended. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<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/173907860073120241125-duterte-sara-hor-hearing-MT-3 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City on November 25, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media at the Batasan Pambansa in Quezon City on November 25, 2024. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The pending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte has unique characteristics that could raise legal questions that the Supreme Court might have to settle, a law expert who was defense counsel during the impeachment trial of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona said.</p><p>Tranquil Salvador III, a defense lawyer during the Corona impeachment trial in 2012, recalled that the Senate immediately convened right after the articles of impeachment were forwarded by the House of Representatives.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/6/marcos-denies-hand-in-sara-duterte-s-impeachment-1559">Marcos denies hand in Sara Duterte’s impeachment</a></div><p>He noted however that Duterte&#x27;s impeachment happened on the last day of session before Congress went on break.</p><p>&quot;Unique itong proseso na ito kasi ho yung Senado on that night of Wednesday, sinabi niya eh recess na kami, suspended na ang session namin. Babalik na po kami sa June 2,&quot; Salvador said in an interview with Teleradyo Serbisyo Sunday, February 9. </p><p>(This is unique because the Senate said that Wednesday night that &#x27;Well, we are on recess, session is suspended. We will come back on June 2.&#x27;)</p><p>He said that, under the 1987 Constitution, the Senate should proceed to trial at once.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/9/senate-can-convene-start-vp-sara-duterte-trial-if-there-s-a-will-carpio-1225">Senate can convene, start VP Sara Duterte trial &#x27;if there&#x27;s a will&#x27; — Carpio</a></div><p>However, Congress will only have six session days when they resume session on June 2 and adjourn sine die on June 14. That will mark the end of the 19th Congress, which the 20th Congress will replace in July.</p><p>&quot;Makakaya ba &#x27;yan ng ilang araw lamang? Ang magsasabi po niyan ay ang Senado kasi po sila ang hukuman,&quot; Salvador said.</p><p>(Can they do that in those few days? All I can say is that that is up to the Senate because they are the court)</p><p>He said since the Senate will make its own rules, and could schedule marathon hearings if members agree to that.</p><p>The impeachment trial is also unique because of the potential to spillover to the 20th Congress, an issue that the Supreme Court might need to settle.</p><p>Salvador said he believes the impeachment case cannot be carried over since it will involve a different Congress altogether.</p><p>&quot;Kung gusto po nila, magkakaroon ng legal question kasi wala pang sinasagot na ganyan ang Korte Suprema. Kung tutuloy siya, sa aking pananaw hindi na po dapat &#x27;yun,&quot; he added.</p><p>(If they want to do that, a legal question will arise because that has not been settled by the Supreme Court. If they push through with it, I don&#x27;t think </p><div><strong>&#x27;NOT BOUND&#x27;</strong></div><p>Salvador said it is difficult to say if six hearing days are enough to finish the trial within the 19th Congress</p><p>He recalled that during the Corona impeachment trial, the prosecution panel presented only three out of the eight articles of impeachment.</p><p>&quot;Hindi sila bound doon sa dami ng articles of impeachment (They are not bound by the number of the articles of impeachment),&quot; he said.</p><p>He said the prosecution might decide to focus on just one or two articles. Which means the defense will only need to focus on those.</p><p>&quot;Tapos closing argument, o botohan na (and then the closing argument, and it&#x27;s down to voting),&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong><br/><br/><strong><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/JKS267g4Zbk?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong></div>

<p>Tranquil Salvador III, a defense lawyer during the Corona impeachment trial in 2012, recalled that the Senate immediately convened right after the articles of impeachment were forwarded by the House of Representatives.</p>

Tranquil Salvador III, a defense lawyer during the Corona impeachment trial in 2012, recalled that the Senate immediately convened right after the articles of impeachment were forwarded by the House of Representatives.

'Unique' VP Duterte trial could raise legal question for SC — Corona defense lawyer

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'Unique' VP Duterte trial could raise legal question for SC — Corona defense lawyer

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published February 09, 2025 02:54 PM PHT

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Updated February 09, 2025 03:36 PM PHT

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