MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Senate to comment on a petition calling for immediate action on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Catalino Generillo Jr., a former special counsel of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, filed the petition for mandamus, urging the SC to compel the Senate to constitute itself as an impeachment court and proceed with the trial.
The SC has given the Senate 10 days to respond to the petition. Generillo argues that the Constitution requires the Senate to act swiftly, even during recess, in deciding whether to form an impeachment court for the Vice President.
The impeachment articles were transmitted to the Senate on February 5. However, Congress adjourned on February 8 and will resume sessions from June 2 to 13, with a sine die adjournment on June 14.
Senate President Francis Escudero has indicated that the impeachment trial is unlikely to take place until after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address in July, citing the focus of several senators on their reelection campaigns during the break.
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