By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Koko Pimentel sent a letter to Senate President Chiz Escudero, urging him to act “forthwith” on the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte.
“I write to emphasize the constitutional mandate requiring the Senate to act ‘forthwith’ on the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte,” Pimentel said in the letter.
“Since this is a constitutional provision, the term ‘forthwith’ must be interpreted in accordance with the Verba Legis Rule, meaning it should be given its ‘plain and ordinary meaning.’”
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ordered the Senate to comment on the petition filed before the tribunal.
This followed a petition for mandamus, asking the SC to compel the Senate to convene for an impeachment trial against Duterte.
The SC “required the Senate to comment on the petition within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of notice.”
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By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senate President Chiz Escudero urged his fellow senators to study the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Escudero stated that the articles of impeachment filed by the House of Representatives against Duterte, along with all annexes and evidence, have been distributed to all senators.
He also emphasized that those running for Senate should begin studying the case, in addition to his fellow lawmakers.
The 44-page verified impeachment complaint against Duterte, submitted by the House to the Senate, is now available on the upper chamber’s website.
Escudero announced that the impeachment trial against Duterte will begin after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
He assured that the trial will be held during the 20th Congress to allow sufficient time for preparations.
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By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senate President Chiz Escudero announced that the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte will begin after President Marcos’ fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Escudero confirmed that the trial will take place during the 20th Congress to allow ample time for preparation.
“Most likely, it will happen when the new Congress begins its functions, meaning after the SONA. I think SONA will be on July 21, so the trial will commence after that,” Escudero said.
The Senate plans to conduct the trial four times a week, potentially lasting five to six hours a day.
“Once the 20th Senate starts, the trial will proceed without further delays,” Escudero added.
The Senate leader assured that the upper chamber will ensure fairness in the trial, based on the evidence presented.
Meanwhile, Escudero stated that there will be no special session held for the trial.
“Who wants us to hold a trial before the elections?” the senator quipped.
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MANILA – Senate President Francis Escudero has once again dismissed accusations of irregularities in the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA), describing them as unfair and overlooking the rigorous legislative process that both houses of Congress, along with their staff, underwent to finalize the budget.
Escudero’s comments came in response to a petition filed with the Supreme Court (SC) challenging the constitutionality of specific provisions in the GAA. The petitioners, led by former executive secretary Vic Rodriguez and other former government officials, argue that certain budget allocations violate legal principles and should be invalidated.
In a press briefing on Tuesday (28 Jan 2025), Escudero emphasized that the accusations failed to acknowledge the comprehensive work done by lawmakers and their staff.
“For me, that is an unfair comment and accusation, especially considering the extensive work put into it, not only by the chairpersons and vice chairpersons of the Senate and the House of Representatives, but also the staff,” Escudero said.
The Senate President also noted that the legal challenge reflects the increasingly heated political environment, where government actions are heavily scrutinized and litigated. “That is a sign of how intense politics is in our country, but it’s also part of our democratic system. It should not be feared or avoided,” Escudero added.
While acknowledging that government officials should remain accountable to public scrutiny, Escudero pointed out that any disputes over the budget should ultimately be resolved in the courts.
The petition names the House of Representatives, the Senate of the Philippines, and Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin as respondents.
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