Daven Tamayo

VP impeachment case has no place in the 20th Congress – Tolentino

Article (news)

Anthony James Bayog

ABS-CBN News

Senator Francis Tolentino on Thursday (June 5) stood firm that the articles of impeachment filed under the 19th Congress against Vice President Sara Duterte must not cross to the 20th Congress. In a DZMM interview, Tolentino insisted that &#x27;out of 21,000 words on the 1987 Constitution&#x27;, no &#x27;carry-over&#x27; is mentioned, opposing former Senate President Franklin Drilon&#x27;s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1eZhY580JA">statement</a> that &#x27;there is enough basis&#x27; for the said impeachment case to continue to the next Congress. &quot;&#x27;Trial shall proceed forthwith.&#x27; Kanino po nakapaskil yung salitang &#x27;forthwith?&#x27; Yun po ay nakadikit sa kung saan dinulog yung complaint. Yung articles of impeachment, yun po ay nakadikit sa 19th Congress. Hindi po iyon dinikit sa 20th Congress,&quot; he added. Constitutionalist Christian Monsod, however, refuted Tolentino<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/5/senators-who-prejudged-vp-sara-impeachment-should-recuse-selves-monsod-1200"> saying that the Senate is a continuing body</a>, able to continue the said impeachment case up to the 20th Congress. “Yung outgoing senators they step down June 30. At the same time, the newly elected 12 assumed office. So, there is never a situation where there are only 12,” Monsod explained. Tolentino said the Senate can convene as impeachment court even after sine die adjournment on June 13 and that he is ready to act as &#x27;impartial judge&#x27; who will stay up day and night to finish the said trial before June ends. Tolentino earlier argued that if the impeachment case is not done by June 30, the last day of the 19th Congress, the said impeachment will be &#x27;functionally dismissed.&#x27;

Senator Francis Tolentino on Thursday (June 5) stood firm that the articles of impeachment filed under the 19th Congress against Vice President Sara Duterte must not cross to the 20th as it is filed on the current legislature.

Senator Francis Tolentino on Thursday (June 5) stood firm that the articles of impeachment filed under the 19th Congress against Vice President Sara Duterte must not cross to the 20th as it is filed on the current legislature.