Lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc are pressing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to call a special congressional session to initiate the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a joint statement on Monday, ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro, Gabriela party-list Rep. Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel argued that a special session would allow the Senate to act as an impeachment court and proceed with the trial, even while Congress is on break.
The lawmakers criticized the Duterte camp’s legal tactics, including petitions filed before the Supreme Court to halt the impeachment process. They asserted that these maneuvers should prompt Marcos to act immediately.
“The continuous delay in the impeachment trial is troubling. Each day that passes is another day justice is postponed,” they stated, adding that Marcos does not need to wait for a formal request from Senate President Francis Escudero or House Speaker Martin Romualdez to convene the session.
Duterte was impeached on February 5, with 215 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. However, the Senate was unable to take action before its session ended, leaving the trial in limbo until Congress reconvenes after the 2025 midterm elections—unless a special session is called.
Escudero has maintained that the case will be handled by the 20th Congress, while former senator Panfilo Lacson countered that an impeachment trial can begin in the 19th Congress and continue under the next.
Meanwhile, Duterte and her allies have turned to the Supreme Court to block the proceedings, arguing that multiple impeachment complaints were filed against her in violation of constitutional provisions.
The Makabayan bloc insists that political maneuvering should not delay accountability, calling on the public to push for action.
