MANILA – The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio will likely cross from the 19th Congress into the 20th, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said.
“It is very clear that it will. Because there is no way that even if they start the trial now, that they will finish it before the new senators come in. So, well, again, the Ssnators will decide,” Marcos told the media on Tuesday.
He stressed: “This is really a function of the Senate right now. So, we leave it to them. It has moved already from the House. It has now been in the Senate for a few months.”
On Monday evening, the Senate referred the impeachment complaint against Duterte-Carpio to its Committee on Rules, formally initiating proceedings that could lead to the convening of an impeachment court.
The move came after Escudero took his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court, in a symbolic step seen as a prelude to the trial.
The Senate is expected to take further action when it resumes session on June 11. Congress adjourns sine die on June 30.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino has filed a resolution seeking to adopt a 19-day calendar to conduct the proceedings for the impeachment trial of Duterte-Carpio.
Under Senate Resolution No. 1367, Tolentino said the impeachment trial shall proceed in accordance with his proposed calendar “in order to uphold due process and ensure the timely resolution of the impeachment case.”
Tolentino also stressed the need to adopt the expedited trial calendar, which he said would afford the parties a “full and fair opportunity to articulate their respective positions and to ensure the resolution of the case” before the 19th Congress ends on June 30.
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint against her. She was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes./PN
