Former Senate President Franklin Drilon is calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to convene a special session of Congress, allowing the Senate to immediately form an impeachment court to try Vice President Sara Duterte before the midterm elections in May.
In an Inquirer.net report, Drilon stressed the urgency of the trial, warning that delaying proceedings until Congress resumes in June could create legal complications. “The special session is necessary to start the process … because the impeachment court can only be convened upon the referral by the Senate of the impeachment complaint in a plenary session,” he said.
The impeachment complaint against Duterte, signed by 215 House members, was transmitted to the Senate last week. However, the chamber adjourned without acknowledging it. The Buhay ang People Power Network, a coalition of civil society groups, has also urged the Senate to act immediately, citing the constitutional requirement that an impeachment trial “shall forthwith proceed.”
Senate President Francis Escudero, however, downplayed the need for urgency, questioning why some groups were in a hurry. “Who’s in a rush? Show me a law that says we should expedite the trial,” he said, arguing that the Constitution does not explicitly mandate an immediate response. He maintained that the Senate would not be swayed by political pressures for or against Duterte.
Drilon countered Escudero’s stance, asserting that holding a special session for an impeachment trial is as vital as any legislative function. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III agreed, stating that waiting until June would waste valuable time.
Duterte faces multiple allegations, including misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds and making threats against key officials. She has denied accusations of plotting assassinations, but House leaders have dismissed her statements as an attempt to backtrack. “She threw a tantrum, blurted out highly dangerous statements, and now that she realizes the legal consequences, she is pretending none of it happened,” said House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong.
