Pimentel wants all senators' caucus to discuss Sara Duterte impeachment

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said Thursday he will ask Senate President Francis Escudero to call for a caucus or a meeting among senators to discuss the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Pimentel said a caucus is needed because his colleagues may have divided attention at this point amid the ongoing campaign for the 2025 midterm elections.

“Maybe, [ang] attention nila nga nasa iba. That's why we are now focusing on this matter. So that the Senate President can focus every senator's attention on this matter, magpatawag na siya ng caucus,” Pimentel said during Kapihan sa Senado

“Kausapin ko si SP (Senate President). Sulatan ko pa siya,” he added.

He further said the caucus will give them opportunity to explain their respective position on the matter.

On Wednesday, Escudero reiterated that the Senate will most likely start the impeachment trial when the 20th Congress opens in July.

In response, Pimentel insisted that conducting the trial during the last week of July will violate the Constitution.

He was referring to the Article 11, Section 3.4 of the 1987 Constitution which states that: “In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.”

“Masyado pong matagal ‘yun kasi from February 5 [na na-ifile ang impeachment complaint]. Halos apat na buwan 'yun. Hindi na ‘yun compliant sa sinabi ng Constitution na kumilos agad,” Pimentel said.

(That timeline is too far from February 5 when the impeachment complaint was filed. That is almost four months. That is not compliant with what the Constitution says.)

The minority leader then said that the Senate will subject itself to criticisms in the long run if it will not fulfill its mandate to immediately start the impeachment trial.

“This will result in unnecessary criticisms against the Senate kasi hindi na sinusunod ‘yung mandato ng Constitution. So [dapat], sunod lang kami. Ang dami naming time. Pwede na ngayong March. Pwede naman na mag-start sa March,” he said.

(This will result in unnecessary criticisms against the Senate because did not comply with what the Constitution states. So, we should follow the Constitution. We have a lot of time. We can start in March, we can do that in March.)

Pimentel earlier wrote a letter to Escudero, urging the Senate President to immediately start the impeachment trial.

While Duterte and her allies filed petitions asking the Supreme Court to stop the Senate from holding the impeachment trial and void the House’s impeachment complaint, Pimentel said such petitions should have no bearing in Senate’s decision since its mandate to convene as an impeachment court immediately is anchored on strong legal grounds.

“Meron po tayong matibay na legal basis kung kilusan na ng Senate ang impeachment complaint or ang Articles of Impeachment: the Constitution plus the Senate Rules [on impeachment]. Pagbasa mo ng Konstitusyon...the trial in the Senate shall forthwith proceed. That is what the Constitution says,” Pimentel said.

(We have a strong legal basis in acting upon the impeachment complaint.)

Pimentel also cited Rule 10 of the Senate Rules on Impeachment which states that “At 2 o'clock in the afternoon or at such other hour as the Senate may order of the day appointed for the trial of an impeachment, the legislative business of the Senate, if there be any, shall be suspended, etc..”

“Reading that provision, you do not get the impression that [there is a requirement] that the Senate must be in session [to start the impeachment trial]. As long as these rules are not yet amended, what do we follow? Mag-i-imagine [ba] kami na as if amended [na ang rules]. Dito muna tayo sa wording of the existing [rules],” he said.

(Should we imagine that as if this has been amended? We should stick with the wording of our existing rules.)

“Our position is logical, with legal basis. Yes, we should be cautious [in our actions], but not too cautious kasi sirang-sira na ang meaning the forthwith [kapag ganun]. Normal na salita lang ‘yan [forthwith], ibig sabihin bilisan, without any delay,” Pimentel added.

(We cannot be too cautious that we already destroy the meaning of the word forthwith. That is a normal language which means immediately.)

The seven Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President include:

• Conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez;
• Malversation of P612.5 million in confidential funds with questionable liquidation documents;
• Bribery and corruption in the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte’s tenure as Education Secretary, involving former DepEd officials;
• Unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), with her wealth reportedly increasing fourfold from 2007 to 2017;
• Involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao City;
• Destabilization and public disorder efforts, including boycotting the State of the Nation Address (SONA) while declaring herself “designated survivor,” leading rallies calling for Marcos Jr.’s resignation, obstructing congressional investigations, and issuing threats against top officials; and
• The totality of her conduct as Vice President.

—AOL, GMA Integrated News