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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/File

Senate President Chiz Escudero answers questions from the media during a press conference at a restaurant in Quezon City on February 19, 2025. Escudero confirmed that preparations are underway, laying the groundwork for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. However, he maintains that there is no trial while Congress is on break. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

RG Cruz

Vivienne Gulla

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/174892244673020250219-escudero-chiz-MT-7.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><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/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Senate President Francis Escudero maintained Tuesday that the delay of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte neither favors nor prejudices either side.</p><p>The Senate chief clarified this as he parried accusations that he was behind the delay that critics fear could end up killing the impeachment.</p><p>&quot;&#x27;Yung sinasabi nilang delay, walang nadagdag, walang nabawas kanino man. Sa prosecutor man o sa panig ni Vice President Sara noong inaatras, iniurong mula June 3, June 2 , papuntang June 11. Wala namang nadagdag o nabawas, ang pagkakaiba lamang, nabigyan kami ng panahon na asikasuhin ‘yong pangunahin naming trabaho na magpasa ng makabuluhang batas bago matapos nang tuluyan ang 19th Congress,&quot; Escudero said.</p><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><p>Last week, Escudero announced that the prosecution panel&#x27;s scheduled presentation at the Senate would be moved to June 11 instead of June 2, citing the tackling of &quot;priority legislative measures before the 19th Congress adjourns&quot; as the reason for the postponement.</p><p>He said he consulted some senators on his move.</p><p>Escudero pointed out that the end of the congressional term this month would run smack into the middle of the preparatory processes for trial, which would stall the proceedings because the process cannot go on once the congressmen prosecutors&#x27; term expires this month.</p><p>Escudero also disagreed with Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III&#x27;s position that the Senate rules mandate that legislation give way to impeachments. Escudero said that the rule applies when trial proper begins, but not before.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CROSSOVER TO 20TH CONGRESS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Escudero also said that <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/2/escudero-end-of-19th-congress-to-stall-vp-sara-impeachment-1551">the Senate may rule on Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino&#x27;s position</a> that the impeachment trial could be dismissed due to the expiration of the term of the 19th Congress this month.</p><p>Escudero maintained<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/2/escudero-addresses-no-impeachment-scenario-in-the-end-senate-plenary-is-supreme-1133"> the supremacy of the plenary</a> on the matter.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/2/romualdez-says-delays-in-sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-up-to-discretion-of-senate-1648">Romualdez says delays in Sara Duterte impeachment trial up to discretion of Senate</a></div><p>He acknowledged that the presentation of the articles next week may be marred by long debates that could lead to a vote on whether the Senate impeachment court can even be convened. </p><p>He previously said that the end of the congressional term this month would stall the proceedings.</p><p>Escudero also ruled out convening the court past the adjournment next week, as the Senate&#x27;s own rules mandate preliminary processes that will also run smack into the end of term on June 30.</p><p>&quot;Ayon sa rules ng impeachment mismo, bibigyan... si Vice President Sara ng 10 araw mula sa pagkakatanggap niya ng summons para sumagot. Hindi para, wala pa akong sinasabing hihiling siya ng dagdag na panahon para sagutin ‘yon. Kung 10 araw, malapit na masyado ‘yon sa June 30 na pagtatapos ng termino ng prosecutors ng Kamara,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHAT OTHER LAWMAKERS SAY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Meanwhile, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano recognized that the implementation of the Senate&#x27;s constitutional mandate to try impeachment cases is subject to a vote by the senators. But he believes a vote alone doesn&#x27;t make it right.</p><p>&quot;Kapag Constitutional mandate, gagawin mo lang. Having said that, di ba kasi, yung implementing it and applying it to the 24 senators, may botohan ‘yan. But just because may botohan, doesn’t make it right,&quot; Cayetano told reporters.</p><p>Asked if the vote can reverse the mandate, Cayetano said, &quot;Hindi dapat.&quot;</p><p>Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros pressed the Senate leadership for a trial anew, just as a group of pro-impeachment protestors picketed the Senate premises in Pasay City.</p><div><a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/30/lawmakers-worry-over-sara-duterte-no-impeachment-trial-scenario-1716&amp;ved=2ahUKEwi-x8Lw2tSNAxXWcWwGHZgoGhgQFnoECBoQAQ&amp;usg=AOvVaw1rSs5L2yEwgLSTLA4zEoOX">Lawmakers worry over Sara Duterte &#x27;no impeachment trial&#x27; scenario</a></div><p>&quot;Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng bola na dini-dribble ng apat na buwan. Kahit naman sa basketball, may shot clock. Convening as an impeachment court and commencing trial is expressly mandated by the Constitution. And yet this process has been delayed and dragged on for four long months.&quot; Hontiveros said in a video statement.</p><p>&quot;In those four months, I’ve been called eager, aggressive, impatient, &#x27;atat.&#x27; But the simple truth is this: We are not rushing. In fact, we have been waiting. The Filipino people are waiting. And we believe four months is more than enough... It’s time to follow the rules and start the process ‘forthwith’. Enough games. Time to move,&quot; Hontiveros added.</p><p>The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on the last day of sessions February, but the Senate onset of the 2025 campaign period stalled the proceedings.</p><p>House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro expressed dismay over the postponement of the Senate proceedings, saying: “With due respect sa ating Senate President, ang tanong ka rito, sino ba ‘yung pinoproteksyunan mo sa ganyang sinasabi mo? Taumbayan ba o si Sara Duterte?”</p><p>For Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña, who also signed the impeachment complaint, the delays in the impeachment proceedings at the Senate could only mean two things.</p><p>“Every day of delay sends the message that the Senate leadership is either afraid of Vice President Duterte, or worse, actively protecting her. Kaya nga ang tanong natin: Natatakot ba kayo kay Sara Duterte, o pinoprotektahan niyo siya?” he said.</p><p>Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel added: “Habang walang ginagawa ang Senado, it is already being partial.</p><p>Atty. Neri Colmenares, a complainant in the second impeachment complaint filed against Duterte asserted that the Constitution is supreme over the Senate.</p><p>“’Yung sinasabi na hindi makatawid [sa 20th Congress], opinion ‘yan ng majority leader, pero ang Konstitusyon does not say na ang impeachment trial pwede mong putulin kung mag-adjourn ang legislature o kaya may new Congress na mabubuo… It can be argued talaga na continuing body nga ‘yan,” Colmenares said.</p><p>“The Constitution is clear. Kayo lang ang may poder na magresolve ng impeachment case. Kung kayo ay patayin ang impeachment, edi wala nang pupuntahan ang taumbayan in terms of accountability,” he added. </p><p>ACT Teachers Party List Representative-elect Antonio Tinio said the Senate has the power to address a situation like the impeachment trial crossing over to the 20th Congress.</p><p>“Nasa buong poder ng Senado na ituloy ang impeachment trial, kahit pa may kakaibang circumstance, kaya nga siya may rule making power. Including yung matatapos na yung kasalukuyang senado at magkakaroon ng bago. May buong kapangyarihan ang Senado para harapin ang ganitong sitwasyon,” he said.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><iframe width="853" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0IbWFJes824" title="Senators debate whether VP Sara impeachment can cross over to 20th Congress | ABS-CBN News" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>

<p>Senate President Francis Escudero maintained Tuesday that the delay of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte neither favors nor prejudices either side.</p>

Senate President Francis Escudero maintained Tuesday that the delay of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte neither favors nor prejudices either side.

Chiz: Impeachment delay neither favors nor prejudices Duterte team, prosecutors

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Chiz: Impeachment delay neither favors nor prejudices Duterte team, prosecutors

RG Cruz,

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 03, 2025 12:10 PM PHT

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Updated Jun 03, 2025 04:13 PM PHT

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