THE Senate has formally asked the House of Representatives to present the seven charges in the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, “in an open session” when Congress resumes regular sessions on June 2.
Senate President Francis Escudero, in a letter addressed to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez dated May 19, said the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment is pursuant to Rule 1 of the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials.
Romualdez yesterday confirmed receipt of Escudero’s letter which he said “will be transmitted to the panel of House prosecutors.”
Escudero, in the letter to Romualdez, the Senate will be ready to receive the House panel of prosecutors at 4 p.m. of June 2.
“As stated in our letter dated February 24, 2025, the Senate shall expect the prosecution to read the seven charges under the Articles of Impeachment in an open session,” he added.
On June 3, Escudero said, the Senate will convene as an impeachment court at 9 a.m. “for the purpose of issuing the summons and such other relevant orders.”
A copy of the letter was furnished Duterte.
The allegations against Duterte revolve around various violations of the 1987 Constitution and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, among other laws.
These are conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Romualdez; malversation of some P612.5 million in confidential funds as vice president and as Education secretary; bribery and corruption in the Department of Education; unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets; involvement in extrajudicial killings; and alleged involvement in destabilization, insurrection, sedition and public disorder.
The impeachment trial is expected to start in July.
Escudero earlier said it will be the first time the Articles of Impeachment will be formally presented by the House to the Senate. He said that in past impeachment trials, the articles were read only by the Senate majority leader.
The House impeached Duterte on February 5 and transmitted the impeachment complaint to the Senate on the same day, the last session day before Congress took a long break for the midterm elections. As a result, it was not formally presented to the Senate in an open session due to lack of time.
Regular sessions will resume June 2 and Congress will go on sine die adjournment on June 14 which signals the end of the 19th Congress.
The 20th Congress will open on July 28.
The new members of the Senate who have been elected in the midterm elections are expected to be sworn in as senator-judges the following day. – With Wendell Vigilia
