Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Vice President Sara Duterte answers questions during a post-event press conference following the 2025 KASARILAYAAN Pride Reception on Wednesday, June 25, at the LausGroup Event Centre in San Fernando, Pampanga. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751603912248175142914918520250625-kasarilayaan-duterte-MT32.webp" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Vice President Sara Duterte answers questions during a post-event press conference following the 2025 KASARILAYAAN Pride Reception on Wednesday, June 25, at the LausGroup Event Centre in San Fernando, Pampanga. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align:left"><br/></div><p style="text-align:left">MANILA — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is &quot;not optional&quot; and must proceed once the 20th Congress formally convenes in a few weeks, according to House prosecutor on Friday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/2/spox-impeachment-court-won-t-meet-unless-house-complies-with-orders-1729">Spox: Impeachment court won&#x27;t meet unless House complies with orders</a></div><p>“No, it is not optional. As soon as it is filed, ang understanding ko, ang obligasyon ng Senado is to hear and decide the case,&quot; Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores told DZMM.</p><p>Flores insisted that under the Constitution, the Senate is obliged to conduct the trial and they had no power to &quot;dismiss&quot; it as earlier floated by Senate President Francis &quot;Chiz&quot; Escudero.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/2/ombudsman-key-to-access-vp-sara-bank-records-amid-impeachment-trial-carpio-1247">Ombudsman key to access VP Sara bank records amid impeachment trial: Carpio</a></div><p>“Kasi ang obligasyon nila under the Constitution is really to hear and decide. ‘Yun naman ang nakasabi doon sa Constitution. So kung i-follow lang nila ‘yung Constitution, there is really going to be a trial,” Flores said.</p><p>When asked about the possibility of dismissal, Flores said: &quot;Wag naman sana.&quot;</p><p>Flores said the trial is not expected to begin until around July 28 or 29, mainly due to the impeachment court&#x27;s second condition that asked the 20th Congress if will proceed with the impeachment of Duterte.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/27/senate-court-cannot-just-dismiss-impeach-raps-constitution-framer-1229">&#x27;Where did that come from?&#x27;: Senate court cannot just &#x27;dismiss&#x27; impeach raps — Constitution framer</a></div><p>“Wala pang certification or compliance na magagawa until the 20th Congress is organized and starts. So that’s technically after the SONA pa,” he said.</p><div><strong>HONTIVEROS VS TONGOL</strong></div><p>Earlier this week, impeachment court Regie Tongol said that Escudero, the court&#x27;s presiding officer, was cautious not to convene until the Senate Presidency of the 20th Congress is settled, in order to avoid any questions about his authority.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/3/llamanzares-to-support-house-resolution-to-continue-sara-duterte-trial-1800">Llamanzares to support House resolution to continue Sara Duterte trial</a></div><p>In a statement Friday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros called out Tongol, saying he does not speak for the Senate.</p><p>&quot;[W]ith all due respect, he does not reflect the voice of the Senate... Based on his statements at a recent press conference, he represents only the position of the Presiding Officer. But he does not represent mine, as one of the Senator-Judges,&quot; Hontiveros said in a statement. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/7/3/sara-duterte-impeachment-trial-about-accountability-group-says-2302">Sara Duterte impeachment trial about accountability, group says</a></div><p>Hontiveros pointed out she does not share the position advanced by Tongol that the court will not convene unless and until the beginning of the 20th Congress.</p><p>Some lawmakers have already signified their intention to support a House resolution in compliance with the impeachment court&#x27;s second order. </p><div><strong>—With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FktJw4tvGJE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MzD5OIOANOc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is "not optional" and must proceed once the 20th Congress formally convenes in a few weeks, according to House prosecutor on Friday.</p>

The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is "not optional" and must proceed once the 20th Congress formally convenes in a few weeks, according to House prosecutor on Friday.

VP Sara impeach trial 'not optional,' must happen in 20th Congress: prosecutor

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VP Sara impeach trial 'not optional,' must happen in 20th Congress: prosecutor

Jauhn Etienne Villaruel,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jul 04, 2025 01:19 PM PHT

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Updated Jul 31, 2025 06:28 PM PHT

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