Chiz: Sara Duterte impeachment trial done by October

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said Tuesday the decision on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte can be rendered by October this year.

Escudero made the remark as he laid out the rough timeline of the impeachment trial of the Vice President in a press conference in Sorsogon.

"Sa tingin ko, hindi sosobra sa tatlong buwan o dalawang buwan ang trial so by the time na mag-recess kami sa October 2025, tapos na ito at mapagbobotohan na," Escudero said.

(I think the trial won't last more than three or two months. So by the time when go into recess on October 2025, the trial will be done and we will already vote.)

Maintaining his stand that the processes related to Duterte's impeachment trial would start on June 2, Escudero mentioned his estimated timeline:

• Upon resumption: convene the impeachment court; approve the impeachment rules
• June 4: issuance of summons to the vice president
• June 6: deadline for the vice president to receive summons
• June 16: deadline for the vice president to answer the summons
• June 26: deadline for the House of Representatives to file a reply on Duterte's answer
• June 30: end of filing of possible rejoinders and ad cautelam pleadings
• July 29 or July 30: possible start of trial for the reception and admission of evidence

The Senate president also dismissed calls to conduct a special session, including that of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.

He said there must be urgent legislation or an emergency for a special session to be convened.

"Ang impeachment ay hindi urgent legislation. Anong gusto ninyo, magbulungan tayo kunwari may urgent legislation magpapa-request ako pero pag-usapan natin talaga ay impeachment? 'Yun pa lang mali na, hindi ba?" Escudero said.

(Impeachment is not urgent legislation. What do you want, let's whisper to each other as if there's urgent legislation? That I request a special session for this but actually we will talk about impeachment? Don't you agree that is wrong?)

Escudero also said impeachment could not be cited as a reason for Congress to automatically conduct a session.

"Hindi binanggit ang impeachment at iisa lamang ang pagkakataong puwede akong humiling ng special session, wala rin kinalaman ang impeachment doon at alam ni Senator [Aquilino 'Koko'] Pimentel 'yan kaya caucus ang hiniling niya," he said.

(Impeachment is not cited as a reason [to conduct a session]. I can only request for a special session under one circumstance, and that has nothing to do with impeachment. Senator Pimentel knows this, that is why he asked for a caucus.)

Last week, Pimentel asked Escudero to immediately start Duterte's impeachment trial, saying it was the Senate's constitutional duty to do so.

Impeachment rules

Meanwhile, Escudero said he is no longer considering updating the impeachment rules as this might be questioned before the Supreme Court.

"Pinagdebatehan namin nang mahaba 'yan. Bagaman gusto naming i-update 'yung rules, hindi namin puwedeng gawin lahat ang gusto naming gawin dahil mayroon nang nakasampang kaso," he said.

(We debated those rules for a long time. Although we want to update the rules, we can't do everything we want to do because a case is pending.)

"I don't want the Senate to be accused of changing the rules in the middle of the game. Baka sabihin ni VP Sara, binago niyo dahil lang sa akin. Huwag na natin bigyan ng dahilan ang sinuman na umakyat at kwestiyunin ito. So ang babaguhin na lamang namin ay ang direksiyong tinatahak namin, 'yung hindi makakaapekto sa kasalukuyang kaso ni VP Sara for future impeachment complaints na para maging mas maayos ito," he added.

(I don't want the Senate to be accused of changing the rules in the middle of the game. VP Sara might say, you changed the rules because of me. Let us not give anybody a reason to question the rules. So we will only change our direction, one that will not affect VP Sara's case for future impeachment complaints. We need to do this right.)

No thanks?

As for the possibility that the impeachment court convict Duterte, Escudero said he would not accept any offer for him to be the vice president.

"Sinabi ko na 'yan ilang araw na ang nakalilipas na hindi ako interesadong maging bise. Ang pangit naman nu'n sa panlasa. Kami ang magdedesisyon kaugnay niyan tapos 'yun pala interesado ako at gusto ko pala so ngayon pa lang sinasabi ko na hindi ako interesado at tatanggihan ko 'yun kung inalok man sa akin 'yun. Hindi tama at hindi dapat ginagawa 'yun," the Senate chief said.

(I've already said some days ago that I'm not interested to be the vice president. That would leave a bad taste in the mouth. We made a decision about the issue, then it would be found that I'm interested in the position. If the post would be offered to me, I'll reject it. It is not right and it should not be done."

For Escudero, this stand should also be considered by congressmen who signed the impeachment complaint against Duterte.

"Sa parte ng Kamara, siguro dapat ganu'n din kasi pipili nga mula sa Kongreso, eh. Hindi naman siguro dapat konsiderahin 'yan nu'ng mga pumirma at nu'ng mga nagsusulong nito dahil baka mamaya masabihan sila na ito lamang pala ang interes at gusto nila kaya nila ginawa ito," he said.

(Perhaps this should also be the position by those who signed and pushed for the impeachment complaint in the House of Representatives. They may face questions about their interests and intentions in endorsing the complaint.)

"Prudence is the better part of valor, delicadeza (propriety) is rarely seen in government but I think we can always go back to it and rekindle and refresh it in the minds of our people," he added.

According to Escudero, the President will pick any member of Congress to sit as Vice President if Duterte will be convicted by the impeachment court.

The House impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. The Articles of Impeachment were transmitted to the Senate the same day, but the upper chamber adjourned without addressing the case.

Meanwhile, Duterte has filed a Supreme Court petition challenging the validity of the impeachment complaint.

Lawyers from Mindanao and other groups have also asked the SC to stop the trial, calling the complaint defective.

Another petition filed by lawyer Catalino Generillo Jr. seeks to compel the Senate to convene as an impeachment court immediately. — VDV, GMA Integrated News