June 3, 2025
MANILA – With the postponement of the reading of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, what is the present timetable for the trial of the country’s second top leader?
Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday bared the updated timeline of Duterte’s impeachment proceedings.
Considering that there are less than two weeks before the 19th Congress adjourns, the Senate chief said they would be obliged to act on the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte on June 11.
“On June 11, prosecutors from the House of Representatives would present the Articles of Impeachment. It will be discussed and debated upon and if it’s okay, it will be referred to the Committee on Rules that would signal the creation of the impeachment court,” said Escudero in a mix of English and Filipino during a press conference.
“On the same day, we would take oath, convene as an impeachment court, approve rules, and issue summons. Then and there the procedure would end under the 19th Congress,” he added.
Following this, the Senate — as a court — would wait for the Vice President’s answer within 10 days after she received the summons.
But once June 30 arrives, the Senate chief explained that prosecutors and private prosecutors would no longer have the “authority” — hence, the trial would be delayed and the Senate would need to wait for Congress to resume in July.
“Once the new Congress resumes, they would decide whether or not they are in favor of what the 19th Congress did or they would change it. They can either reverse it or they can either approve it or acquest it by simply proceeding with trial,” said Escudero.
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives in a historic move that garnered over 200 signatures from lawmakers.
On the same day, Feb. 5, the Articles of Impeachment were transmitted from the House of Representatives to the Senate, but the upper chamber adjourned its session without tackling the document. /das