MANILA, Philippines — The outcome of the motion aiming to halt the impeachment process against Vice President Sara Duterte rests with the Senate’s justice committee, led by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.
READ: Robin Padilla submits petition aiming to end Sara Duterte case
On Tuesday, during a surprise interview, Senate President Francis Escudero was pushed to disclose how the Senate would handle the resolution submitted by Senator Robin Hood Padilla, considering there were just two legislative sessions left before the end of the 19th Congress.
Escudero clarified that the resolution needs to be sent to the relevant committee prior to being discussed.
READ: Pimentel pushes for the summoning of the Senate impeachment court
"It has to go through a process. It must be escalated to the committee. However, how will we cast votes on it, and what kind of report will the committee provide? According to our rules committee, all articles of impeachment should be forwarded to the judiciary committee," Escudero stated to journalists.
He mentioned that after the referral, the chairman of the justice committee will have the authority to determine how the panel plans to proceed with the resolution that has been sent to them.
"Once it reaches this point, the query persists: What will be the course of action for the committee on justice with merely two days remaining? Seek clarification from the chairman of the committee on justice," he further stated.
Since the decision now lies with the justice panel, has it essentially become irrelevant? Escudero stated that he prefers not to make guesses about what steps the committee chairperson could potentially undertake.
The Senate Committee on Justice is now headed by Pimentel, who took over the role in August 2024 following Senator Francis Tolentino, the previous Senate Majority Leader.
The Axofa has contacted Pimentel to inquire about how his committee plans to handle the resolution if it is assigned to them, but he hasn’t replied as of now.
On Monday, Pimentel and Deputy Minority Leader Senator Risa Hontiveros officially requested the summoning of the impeachment court to hear charges against Duterte.
They emphasized that it is the Senate's responsibility to promptly address the Articles of Impeachment.
Specifically, Pimentel initiated the following movements:
- That the Senate suspend its legislative activities;
- That the Senate has already assembled as the impeachment court right now;
- The Senate President should promptly be sworn in as the presiding officer of the impeachment court;
- Afterward, the Senate President—who acts as the presiding officer—administers the oath or affirmation to all current Senators who are present.
- That the impeachment court subsequently initiate the impeachment proceedings against Duterte and establish a schedule for the trial;
- On June 10, 2025 at 2 PM, the impeachment court will convene to hear the articles of impeachment presented and read aloud by the prosecution team from the House of Representatives.
- Subsequently, a writ of summons should be issued to the official under impeachment.
Following extensive discussions during Monday’s full assembly, the senators agreed upon a "compromise." Unlike what was proposed by the opposition group, only Escudero administered the oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment tribunal.
As previously decided, the senator-judges will be sworn in on June 10 at 4 p.m., and the Senate will assemble as an impeachment court on Wednesday, June 11, as initially planned. mcm