MANILA — Three lawmakers from the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives urged President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday to call for a special session of Congress, so that the Senate may convene as an impeachment court for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

They issued the statement after Senate President Francis Escudero said that the Senate cannot, on its own, cannot call for a special session.

"Kung talagang bukas ang Pangulo sa special session, dapat ay tahasang gawin na niya ito. Hindi na dapat maghintay pa ng kahilingan mula sa Senate President o House Speaker. The people demand accountability now," ACT Teachers Party List Representative France Castro, Gabriela Party List Representative Arlene Brosas, and Kabataan Party List Representative Raoul Manuel said in a joint statement.

"Nakakabahala ang patuloy na pagpapaliban sa impeachment trial. Ang bawat araw na dumadaan ay isang araw na pinapatagal ang hustisya para sa mamamayan. Hindi pwedeng patuloy na gawing hostage ng mga pulitikong may makitid na interes ang impeachment process," they added.

But some congressmen from the House majority are against involving the President in the impeachment process, which they said may be perceived as influencing the senator judges.

“Baka sabihin naman ng mga kritiko ng ating pamahalaan na ‘pag ang Presidente ang mag-request ng special session, baka sabihin nila, it woud translate into influencing the senator judges at baka sabihin naman nila ito ay political move. So ang position ko dyan is we should not allow the direct participation of the President. It is the sole mandate of Congress, meaning both Houses of Congress to approach the case of an impeachment process,” House Assistant Majority Leader and Lanao del Sur 1st District Representative Zia Alonto Adiong said.

“Nasa Senado ‘yung bola. Nasa kanila kung ishoo--shoot or ipapasa,” House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st District Representative Paolo Ortega added.