VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial to start after PBBM’s SONA—Escudero
Senate president Chiz Escudero said that the impeachment trial for Vice President Sara Duterte will start after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.
Escudero confirmed on Monday, Feb. 10 that the impeachment trial for Duterte will begin after SONA and with the 20th Congress.
“When the new congress enters already enters into its function. SONA is on July 21, so the trial will commence after that day,” Escudero told Senate reporters.
Despite several calls from congressmen and other sectors to push for the immediate commencement of the trial, Escudero noted that the senators would need more time to prepare and would not be able to discuss anything until the 19th Congress closes on June 30.
Among these preparations is the adoption of permanent impeachment rules, which are currently being drafted and will be debated back in session. He added that the Senate will also give Duterte to answer the articles of impeachment which can be set for 10 days, or more if the vice president requests for an extension.
With her answer, Escudero said the prosecution or the prosecutors will ask for a response from the chamber, and with their answers, they can be questioned again for a rejoinder.
“From there, the senators can decide to set a pre-trial as is done in court—so with the aforementioned, it will take the June 30, closing of Congress. So the senators - impeachment court judges - wearing robes will be seen in the Senate session hall by July,” he said. He added if the pre-trial is held and the impeachment trial is done four times a week, the trial will be completed in two to three months.
Escudero also said that Duterte will not be forced to be physically present during the impeachment trial against her.
“She is free to say what she wants to say. I doubt if that will happen. She's free to say what she wants, but if she needs to attend, we will make her attend. If she doesn't need to attend, we won't force her, because that's her right to waive her right to appear unless it is necessary or needed,” he said.
The senate president added that in case Duterte would give her testimony, it is subject to cross-examination before it is considered admissible.
“Will she attend as a spectator? Will she attend as a lawyer? Lawyering for herself. It depends on what capacity she will attend, and she will be accorded the treatment depending on the capacity that she is that she will be attending as a lawyer. Then she will sit with all the other lawyers as a witness. She will sit on the witness stand as a mere spectator, not part of the legal team. She will sit in the gallery,” he explained.
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on Feb. 5, garnering 215 votes out of 306 House members. Escudero had confirmed that all 215 signatures on the letter sent to the Senate were "wet" signatures, confirming they were physically signed and not electronic.
“Visually, (the Senate) verified that all 215 signatures are indeed wet signatures. At least four people viewed it at least two times per person. But in addition to that, we procured applications, there is an AI app that can see if the paper has a wet signature or if it is an e-sig. just to further validate,” he said.
The House listed seven articles for Duterte’s impeachment, including committing betrayal of public trust, committing culpable violation of the Constitution and/or committing high crimes in plotting to assassinate Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Romualdez; and misuse and malversation of confidential funds appropriated to the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education, among others. (With reports from Cecille Suerte Felipe)
