MANILA (UPDATED) — Senate President Francis Escudero on Wednesday afternoon maintained that the Senate is not preparing to receive any impeachment complaint nor for any potential proceedings.

"We cannot and will not assume anything until and unless it is a fact.  The statements made by an overeager staff was not authorized by me  nor was it proper," Escudero told reporters in a text message after members of the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau briefed reporters covering the Senate about the possible receipt of an impeachment complaint at the Senate Secretary's Office Wednesday night.

According to the briefing, the complaint is expected to be brought to the Senate by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco at 7 p.m. The complaint would be received by Senate Secretary Renato Bantug, Velasco's counterpart, in his office.

Due to space constraints, coverage of the potential development would be limited PRIB staff. The transmittal, if it happens, will also be streamed on the Senate's YouTube account.

Escudero had already been previously confirmed to be the guest in Thursday's Kapihan sa Senado news forum, a day after the adjournment of the session for the campaign break. 

He will be expected to tackle any impeachment questions during the press conference.

Escudero previously told colleagues not to comment on the impeachment complaints, which the Senate would have to try if sent to the upper house.

RULES REQUIRE POLITICAL NEUTRALITY FROM SENATORS

The Senate President is the presiding officer in all impeachment trials except when the President is on trial. In that case, the chief justice of the Supreme Court would preside over proceedings.

Under the 1987 Constitution, a verified complaint of resolution of impeachment will constitute the Articles of Impeachment if filed by at least a third of all House members.  

Under the Senate's Rules on Impeachment Proceedings, the Senate will set the date and time for the consideration of the Article of Impeachment once these are presented to the upper chamber.

"Unless the Senate provides otherwise, it shall continue in session from day to day (except Saturdays, Sundays, and nonworking holidays) until final judgment shall be rendered, and so much longer as may, in its judgment, be necessary," the rules also read.

The rules also compel senators to observe "political neutrality" during the proceedings, meaning they will have to try the case "without unfair discrimination and regardless of party affiliation or preference."

Duterte has denied allegations against her and has blamed the scrutiny of her offices' spending on politics.

BRIEFING AT SENATE, CAUCUS AT HOUSE

The potential development comes days after House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said that three impeachment complaints filed late last year would finally be transmitted to the office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Velasco previously said a fourth impeachment complaint might be filed against Duterte, whom a House panel investigated over allegedly irregular releases of confidential funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and to the Department of Education that she headed until mid-2024.

"We have enough. 102 lang ang requirement. It was last reported 153 na. Pero wala pa kaming exact number until we report it to the plenary," he said Wednesday afternoon.

(We have enough. The requirement is 102 and there are 153 already, according to the latest report. But we will not know the exact number until we report it to plenary)

Several House members on Wednesday morning confirmed a caucus was scheduled among lawmakers, with at least one saying the impeachment complaints are on the agenda

"Parang naghahanda ata ang majority sa ipe-present mamaya about the impeachment. I have to verify pa nga ano 'yung complaint na 'yun, either one, two, or three," ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro of the House minority bloc said, referring to the three impeachment complaints filed last December.

(It seems the majority is preparing what they will present at the session about impeachment. I have to verify which of the complaints will be taken up)

The Makabayan bloc of lawmakers, which includes Castro and which endorsed the second of the three complaints, said last year that they would work on gathering enough signatures — 106 of 318 members — to transmit the complaint directly to the Senate for trial. — from a report by RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

This is a developing story