Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has urged Senate President Francis Escudero to move quickly on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, citing constitutional requirements for an immediate trial.
Pimentel emphasized that the 1987 Constitution mandates the Senate to proceed “forthwith” once the House of Representatives transmits the Articles of Impeachment. In a letter dated February 14 and released to the media on February 18, he argued that the term should be interpreted in its plain meaning—without delay.
“The above elaboration affirms that it is the Senate’s duty to act on the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte ‘without any delay’ or ‘without interval of time,’” Pimentel wrote, highlighting the importance of upholding constitutional provisions.
Escudero, however, has maintained that the impeachment trial will only commence in the 20th Congress, after the Senate reconvenes with new members in July. He asserted that there is no legal basis for moving forward while the Senate is on break but assured that the process will continue in due course.
Duterte faces impeachment over allegations of misusing public funds in the Office of the Vice President and for making threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
