Marilyn Cahatol

Senators bow their heads in prayer during the opening of the 2nd Regular Session of the 18th Congress on July 27, 2020. Some senators to be led by Senate President Vicente Sotto III will proceed to the House of Representatives in the afternoon to hear the President’s 5th State of the Nation Address in a hybrid joint session. Henzberg Austria, Senate PRIB

Article (news)

RG Cruz

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/174892030972520200727-19th-congress-2nd-session-ho-01005.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Senators bow their heads in prayer during the opening of the 2nd Regular Session of the 18th Congress on July 27, 2020. <em>Henzberg Austria, Senate PRIB/file </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Aquilino &quot;Koko&quot; Pimentel III believes the Supreme Court may choose not to rule on whether or not the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte would be tackled in the 20th Congress despite being initiated in the 19th Congress.</p><p>&quot;Pwedeng maakyat pero hindi pa ngayon. Premature pa. Pero no assurance na patulan ng SC ang issue because the issue has great portion as political in nature,&quot; Pimentel told a group chat with Senate reporters.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/2/escudero-end-of-19th-congress-to-stall-vp-sara-impeachment-1551">Chiz: End of 19th Congress to stall VP Sara impeachment, 20th Congress to decide what&#x27;s next</a></div><p>During the plenary session on Monday, June 2, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros cited then-United States President Bill Clinton&#x27;s impeachment trial.</p><p>&quot;The impeachment of President Clinton was presented to the Senate after the Senate had adjourned Sine die. After, Mr. President, the Senate had adjourned Sine die for the 105th Congress. And the Senate conducted the trial in the 106th Congress, Mr. President,&quot; she added.</p><p>Clinton was impeached by US House of Representatives in Dec. 1998, during its 105th Congress. The impeachment trial in the Senate took place during the 106th Congress, from January to February 1999.</p><p>&quot;And with one very recent concrete example po dun sa impeachment ni US President Clinton. So I hope that we can consider this in our own decision-making, Mr. President, even after the rescheduled presentation by the House prosecutors to the Senate as an impeachment court on 11th June,&quot; she said.</p><p>Sen. Francis Tolentino, however, argued the impeachment trial cannot transcend Congresses as the Senate loses its quorum during congressional transitions because &quot;only 12 senators will remain after each election.&quot;</p><p>&quot;If we cannot conclude the trial before June 30, 2025, we must recognize this impeachment case is functionally dismissed by constitutional operation and no action can be taken by the 20th Congress on the matter for lack of constitutional authority,&quot; he said.</p><p>Tolentino explained that this is different from the US Senate, where only 33 out of 100 senators are replaced every election. So the quorum, 66, is attained even during congressional transitions. </p><p>The 2025 midterm elections, however,  produced five senators reelected to continue in the 20th Congress, aside from the 12 senators with remaining years in the upper chamber. This equals to 17 remaining senators, higher than the needed two-thirds for quorum.</p><p>&quot;But be that as it may, Mr. President, we have all the discussions done and I think this would really be part not just of the discussions that whatever case would be elevated to the Supreme Court would eventually be decided in the near term,&quot; Tolentino said.</p><p>Pimentel underscored that the Constitution does not explicitly say that impeachment trials may or may not be carried over to the next Congress.</p><p>&quot;Mr. President, I will respond directly to the question. Wala po nakasulat doon that it shall carryover. Pero binanggit ko sa aking manifestation, wala talaga rin nakasulat doon that it cannot cross over. So in effect, let us say textually, both positions are not even mentioned or entertained in the Constitution,&quot; Pimentel noted.</p><p>When Pimentel challenged Escudero&#x27;s revision of the timetable for the impeachment, the Senate President maintained he is authorized to do so, as the Senate was on recess at that time.</p><p>&quot;Article 1 of the impeachment rules which says that the Senate President can set the date for the presentation of the articles of impeachment. Mention was made specifically of the Senate President. And also we were on recess. So the Senate President at that time, Your Honor, issued a suggested calendar of activities. I was very clear when I stated that. Subject to plenary approval when we resume because you were already on recess at that time,&quot; said Escudero</p><p>The Senate chief maintained the articles will be read on June 11, unless the plenary decides otherwise.</p><div><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">Escudero addresses &#x27;no impeachment trial&#x27; scenario: &#x27;In the end, Senate plenary is supreme&#x27;</a></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0IbWFJes824?si=pLwJvqslQEFTXgKS" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III believes the Supreme Court may choose not to rule on whether or not the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte would be tackled in the 20th Congress.</p>

Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III believes the Supreme Court may choose not to rule on whether or not the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte would be tackled in the 20th Congress.

SC may opt out of ruling on impeachment: Pimentel

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SC may opt out of ruling on impeachment: Pimentel

RG Cruz,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 03, 2025 11:32 AM PHT

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Updated June 03, 2025 11:33 AM PHT

Read More:

Senate

Francis Tolentino

Koko Pimentel

Chiz Escudero

Impeachment Trial

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