Senate President Francis Escudero answers questions during a forum with the members of the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in Manila on September 24, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Sunday maintained there is no need to move hastily on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.

Escudero stressed in an interview on DZBB said there are rules to be followed and processes needed to be taken before the complaint progresses into an impeachment trial. 

“Isa isahin natin ‘yong hakbang para malaman niyo rin ang gagawin namin pag-resume namin ng June 2,” said the Senate President. 

“’Pag tanggap ng Secretary General titiyakin niyang compliant sa Saligang Batas ‘yong finile ng Kamara patungkol sa requirement nito. Na dapat verified complaint o resolution na hindi bababa sa one-third ng Kamara. Dahil 306 ang mga mambabatas noong araw na iyon, dapat hindi bumaba sa 102. Verified ibig sabihin pinanumpaan sa harap ng Secretary General. Ibig sabihin hindi pwede ang e-signature dapat lahat ‘yon ay wet signature,” he said. 

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After thorough checking, the complaint will need to be calendared so it will be acted upon by the Senate plenary. 

They will set the rules, they will convene the impeachment court wherein all senators will take oath as judges in the impeachment court, he said. 

“Pangatlo, ang pag apruba ng calendar na lahat ginagawa ‘yan… habang naka-sesyon ang Senado hindi kapagka naka-recess,” said Escudero. 

“Ngayon, doon sa mga nagaagam-agam, kapag ka nasimulan na ang buong prosesong ‘yan, sa panahon ng may sesyon kami, pwede na pong tumuloy-tuloy na ang trial tulad ng nangyari sa ibang impeachment maski na naka-recess ang Kongreso.” 

Escudero also responded to several congressmen, including Manila 3rd district Rep. Joel Chua and Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor, who are calling for the Senate to immediately act on the case despite the Congress being on break. 

“Well, para kay Congressman Chua at Congressman Defensor, sagutin muna nila ‘yong simpleng katanungan: mahigit dalawang buwan nilang inupuan ang mga impeachment complaints. Wala silang ginawa, ‘yong ultimo Secretary General nila ni hindi finorward sa Speaker na magkatabi lamang halos ang kwarto ng mahigit dalawang buwan din,” he said. 

“Siguro paliwanag muna nila ‘yon bago nila kami madaliin umaksyon sa loob ng ilang oras at ilang araw lamang dahil dumating sila sa Senado maga-alas singko na ata. Nag adjourn ang Senado makalipas kulang-kulang dalawang oras bago mag alas-siyete. So, hindi para sa kanilang madaliin kami pagkatapos nilang upuan ‘yan sa napakahabang panahon.”

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte last Wednesday, with 215 members supporting a fourth complaint against the vice-president.

READ: House impeaches VP Sara Duterte

This was more than the 102 that was needed for a complaint to be transmitted to the Senate for trial. 

However, the Senate adjourned its plenary session until June 2 without acting on the complaint.

Escudero on Saturday said that he sees no reason to hold a special session for Duterte's trial, while House Speaker Martin Romualdez said the schedule of the trial is up to the Senate.

"We leave it up to their sound discretion," said Romualdez.

In her first comments since the impeachment, Duterte said on Friday that she was "okay" and left the process up to her lawyers.

"Ang tanging masasabi ko na lamang sa puntong ito ay God save the Philippines," she also said.

READ: Sara Duterte says she’s ‘okay’ after impeachment

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