Julia Christine Botin

Impeachment delays leave VP Duterte's fate hanging - Pimentel

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III questioned Monday the decision of Senate President Francis Escudero to push back the start of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte , saying delays will leave the VP’s fate hanging.Escudero earlier announced he had moved the reading of the impeachment complaint against Duterte before the Senate from June 2 to June 11, citing the need for both the Senate and the House to prioritize the passage of 12 priority bills.Speaking to DZMM Radyo Patrol 630, Pimentel said he had urged the Senate leadership to start the trial as early as February after the House of Representatives passed the Articles of Impeachment.He said the impeachment schedule should take priority over the legislative schedule since it leaves the fate of the impeached official hanging.“Kung kulang ka sa oras at meron ka impeachment, unahin mo na ‘yung impeachment. Bakit inuuna ang impeachment? Kasi meron tayong inaabala na mataas na opisyał ng gobyerno. ‘Yun lang naman ang ini-impeach, high-ranking government officials,” he said.Convening the impeachment court can take just a few hours in the morning, Pimentel said, while the legislative sessions can be done in the afternoon.He noted the impeachment trial can be done slowly or quickly since it is the Senate that sets the pace.A survey of Social Weather Stations (SWS) commissioned by Stratbase Group earlier showed that majority of Filipinos believe Vice President Sara Duterte should &quot;address the impeachment charges filed against her&quot; to clear her name, among other findings.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/31/sara-duterte-says-impeachment-trial-is-her-crucifixion-1836">Sara Duterte says impeachment trial is her &#x27;crucifixion&#x27;</a></div>Duterte recenlty called her impeachment trial in the Senate a “crucifixion” and “her own bloodbath”.“It’s a persecution, some sort of crucifixion. And so when there’s crucifixion, there’s blood. So it’s a bloodbath, my bloodbath,&quot; she said in a May 31 press conference.“I’m just sad that many people refuse to understand the context wherein I give my statements,” she added.Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives in February for &quot;high crimes&quot; including corruption and an alleged assassination plot against former ally and running mate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. She has denied irregularities in the use of confidential funds and said her alleged threat against Marcos was taken out of context. The vice president needs nine votes from the full 24-seat Senate for an acquittal. Losing would mean her removal and a permanent ban from public office.<div>-- With a report from Agence France-Presse</div>

Sen. Koko Pimentel questioned Monday the decision of Senate President Francis Escudero to push back the start of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying delays will leave the VP’s fate hanging.

Sen. Koko Pimentel questioned Monday the decision of Senate President Francis Escudero to push back the start of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying delays will leave the VP’s fate hanging.