Chiz firms up Sara trial preps
- No trial before June 30, says Senate President Chiz Escudero — though he has already ordered the chamber to set up the administrative support group for the impeachment court that will try VP Sara Duterte.
- Reversing Escudero’s timetable, Manila Rep. Joel Chua said that Escudero’s Special Order No. 2025-014 had initiated the Senate trial process. With this, the trial could start immediately and concluded by June 30, according to Ako Bicol Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon.
- Escudero has sent a two-page letter to Duterte on Feb. 20 informing her of the Senate’s preparations prior to convening as an impeachment court, including the proposed calendar of activities.
- The Supreme Court chief justice will act as presiding officer and the senators as judges, may be sworn in on June 3. The current set of senators would take their oath as senator-judges, but a new set of 12 senators would again be sworn in when the 20th Congress is convened, Escudero said.
A directive from Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero to set up the administrative support group for the impeachment court that will try Vice President Sara Duterte has set the process in motion and the trial could be finished by the end of June, according to two House prosecutors.
Escudero, however, doused any hopes of beginning the trial proper before June 30 as his timetable included waiting for the results of the May midterm polls, the swearing in of the elected senators in July and the presentation of evidence against Duterte “by July 30.”
Manila Rep. Joel Chua said on Thursday that Escudero’s Special Order No. 2025-014 had initiated the Senate trial process. With this, the trial could start immediately and concluded by June 30, according to Ako Bicol Rep. Raul Angelo Bongalon.
“The Senate’s most recent move affirms our commitment to upholding accountability at the highest levels of government,” Chua said in a statement.
In transmitting the articles of impeachment to the Senate, the House had performed its constitutional duty and it is now up to the senators to “conduct a fair and impartial trial to determine whether Vice President Duterte should be removed from office,” he added.
Chua pointed out that with Thursday’s special order, the Senate had set the stage for the trial proceedings, including the issuance of summons to all parties involved and established an obligation to conduct hearings, receive evidence and hear witnesses to determine the merit of the charges.
Protecting institutions
Duterte is accused of violating the Constitution and high crimes, including the misuse of up to P612.5 million in confidential funds, unexplained wealth and failure to declare her assets, and threats to assassinate President Marcos, his wife Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez.
Chua said the Vice President would now have the opportunity to present her defense and the 11 members of the House prosecution panel, which includes him and Bongalon, would offer evidence and witnesses to back their case.
“The impeachment process is not just about an individual. It is about protecting the institutions of our democracy. Our people deserve leaders who uphold public trust, and this trial is a test of our commitment to justice and accountability,” he pointed out.
In a virtual press conference, Bongalon said there was a “big possibility” that the trial could start before the 19th Congress bows out on June 30.
Bongalon explained that should the impeachment court convene in March, it could probably finish the trial in two to three months. “So, before June 30 … I guess trial is already concluded,” he said.
Surveys vs facts
He said he saw “no other necessary pretrial preparation.”
He had earlier indicated that the House would not be influenced by a recent survey by the pollster WR Numero Research showing 46.7 percent of Filipinos opposing Duterte’s impeachment and 33.3 percent supporting it, with the rest unsure of their stand.
“Surveys may change, but the facts remain,” he said. “This impeachment is about corruption, abuse of power, and the betrayal of public trust. The charges against VP Duterte are not just legal issues—they affect every ordinary Filipino who works hard and pays taxes, only to see their money misused.”
Veep informed
In his own press conference also on Thursday, Escudero said that he sent a two-page letter to Duterte on Feb. 20 informing her of the Senate’s preparations prior to convening as an impeachment court, including the proposed calendar of activities.
Escudero, however, clarified that the suggested schedule was “not cast in stone” and would have to be approved in plenary by senators convened as trial judges in accordance with the Senate’s impeachment rules.
“I have initiated the necessary procedures in accordance with applicable laws, rules, guidelines, and precedent to conduct a fair and orderly impeachment trial,” Escudero told Duterte in his letter. A copy was sent to the House “in the interest of transparency,” he said.
Detailed timetable
In his “proposed” calendar of activities, Escudero said that prosecutors were to present the articles of impeachment to the court on June 2 when the 19th Congress resumes sessions.
The Supreme Court chief justice, as presiding officer, and the senators as judges, may be sworn in on June 3, he said.
Exchange of pleadings would be done from June 14 to June 24. The impeachment court rules set the pretrial to be not more than one month from the last pleading filed by either side, he said.
That would be “just in time” for the opening of the 20th Congress on July 28 and the 12 senators elected in the midterm polls in May are sworn in as impeachment judges on July 29, Escudero said.
“By July 30, if this would be agreed upon by the majority of the Senate, the trial or the presentation of evidence starts,” he said.
Who will sit as judges?
The current set of senators would take their oath as senator-judges, but a new set of 12 senators would again be sworn in when the 20th Congress is convened, Escudero said.
In the 19th Congress, senators with unexpired six-year terms by June 30 are Escudero, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Alan Peter Cayetano, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Risa Hontiveros, Loren Legarda, Robinhood Padilla, Raffy Tulfo, Mark Villar, Joel Villanueva and Juan Miguel Zubiri.
Senators whose terms are ending on June 30 and are not eligible for reelection due to term limits include Nancy Binay, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III, Grace Poe and Cynthia Villar. Sen. Sonny Angara is also not eligible for reelection but he was appointed education secretary last year.
Senators who are running for reelection include Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Christopher “Bong” Go, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Imee Marcos.
Rules up for review
In his letter to Duterte, Escudero said the Senate preparations include a review of its impeachment rules for possible amendments and revising floor arrangements at the Senate session hall whenever for the trial.
The Senate also will provide “enhanced” security and visitor registration procedures, designated areas for the prosecution, defense, media, and other guests, and “improved (and) redundant” internet connection and electricity supply.
According to Escudero, the Senate is also looking for external counsels, legal consultants, and researchers for the impeachment trial.
Church clamor
The Catholic Church has joined the call on the Senate to act “swiftly and decisively” on the impeachment case and ensure immediate and impartial impeachment proceedings.
“Delays and hesitations in the process only weaken our democratic institutions and erode public trust in governance,” said Kidapawan Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo, president of Caritas Philippines, the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.
According to Caritas Philippines, allegations of corruption, abuse of power and negligence in public service must be pursued with the same rigor as any grave crime.
“Corruption is a moral and social evil that robs the people of justice and dignity,” Bagaforo said. “Just as we seek justice in cases of violence and crime, we must be relentless in holding our leaders accountable for betraying public trust.”
Caritas Philippines urged senators to uphold the Senate’s legacy of being “a moral compass” among the three branches of the government.
He said the Senate, especially the Senate President, should embody “patriotism and a true commitment to social justice.”
Prioritize truth
“The people are watching, and they deserve to see their leaders prioritize truth and accountability above political maneuvering,” Bagaforo said.
The Catholic Church is at the forefront with groups calling for Duterte’s impeachment.
There were nine Catholic priests in two of the three impeachment complaints filed in the House in December. The charges lodged in the two complaints were included in the fourth impeachment complaint which was eventually transmitted to the Senate on Feb. 5 with the endorsement of over 200 representatives, more than the required one-third of the House needed to impeach. —WITH A REPORT FROM DEXTER CABALZA
