Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero sees no reason to convene a special session for Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, emphasizing that there is no legal basis to immediately gather the Senate and the House of Representatives for the proceedings.
Congress is currently on a session break, and Escudero clarified that special sessions are meant for urgent legislative matters, not impeachment trials.
“Sa ilalim ng Saligang Batas puwedeng magpatawag ang pangulo sa anumang oras… pero hindi binanggit ng Saligang Batas ang pagkakaroon ng impeachment trial,” he said in an interview with DWIZ.
He also outlined the legal process required before an actual impeachment trial could begin, noting that it must go through pretrial procedures first.
“Marami pang kailangang gawin… bago kami dumating do’n mahaba pa ang proseso,” he added.
Escudero stressed that all impeachable officials should be treated equally.
“Espesyal ba si VP Sara para tratuhin naming espesyal ito? Tulad ng ibang impeachable officers lamang siya sa mata namin,” he said.
Meanwhile, Senator Joel Villanueva stated that he would only support a special session if a majority of senators request it.
“Wala pa po akong narinig ni isang senador na humihingi ng special session… but if the president is requesting and a majority of our colleagues want it, I have no problem with it,” Villanueva said.
However, constitutional framer and former Commission on Elections commissioner Rene Sarmiento argued that the impeachment trial should begin immediately, citing the 1987 Constitution’s provision that the Senate must “forthwith proceed” once an impeachment complaint reaches the chamber.
“Maganda po ‘yung Tagalog version ng ating Saligang Batas. Ano pong ibig sabihin ng ‘forthwith proceed’? Sa Tagalog version po ay ‘Dapat i-sunod kaagad’. The word is ‘agad’,” he explained.
The Senate adjourned without discussing the impeachment case, leaving the matter unresolved until Congress resumes its session.
