A former justice undersecretary believes the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte cannot cross over to the 20th Congress because the process was started in the previous Congress. 

Atty. Ramon Esguerra said the 19-day timeline proposed by Sen. Francis Tolentino for the impeachment trial is not enough to hear all the evidence in the articles of impeachment against Duterte.

“Pito ang articles of impeachment and according to their rules, iisa-isahin nila ‘yun. Hindi kakayanin. We have to be realistic about it,” he told DZMM.

He added there is also a question if the articles of impeachment should be read again once the new senators come in on June 30.

Esguerra said the impeachment should be refiled if time runs out and no verdict is reached by June 30.

“I believe in the collective wisdom of the Senate that they will able to tackle this and I think there were jurisprudence cited from the US about this. Pwede naman ituloy ‘yan sa susunod na Kongreso,” he said.

He added: “Sa akin, hindi dapat tumawid. The articles of impeachment were filed in the 19th Congress. To me strictly speaking, it should be heard by the 19th Congress.”

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5 for "high crimes" including corruption and an alleged assassination plot against former ally and running mate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

If convicted by two-thirds of the Senate, Duterte would be removed from office and permanently barred from holding public office.