House leaves impeachment trial sked to Senate discretion

Senate President Francis Escudero and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News; House of Representatives handout

MANILA — The House of Representatives said it is up to the Senate when to set the impeachment trial schedule of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero has said trial cannot start earlier than June, when Congress comes back from break briefly.

"It’s up to them. We leave it up to their sound discretion," said House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

More than 200 members of the House on Wednesday signed the impeachment complaint against Duterte.

At the House plenary session on Wednesday, 215 of 306 House members supported a fresh complaint against Duterte, who is under fire over the spending of confidential funds.

House: 25 lawmakers sign forms to join impeachment complaint vs Sara Duterte

The verified complaint was received by the Senate on Wednesday.

Duterte on Friday said she was consulting her lawyers regarding her case.

“Ang tanging masasabi ko na lamang sa puntong ito ay God save the Philippines,” she said during a press conference on Friday.

After uphill battle to impeach VP Sara, Makabayan says trial will be ‘up a mountain’

“Bukod dito, nais ko na lang ipaabot ang aking taos pusong pasasalamat sa mga kababayan na patuloy nagdarasal, sumusuporta, nagtitiwala at patuloy na nagmamahal sa akin. Manalig kayo dahil sa taong bayan ang tagumpay.”

More details to follow.