MANILA — Senate President Francis Escudero says he will not convene the impeachment court while the Senate is on recess — which he said would be illegal — despite claims of growing support for an earlier start of the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Escudero previously said impeachment proceedings are not among the purposes he is authorized to call a special session for.

Escudero timetable sees VP Duterte impeachment trial starting on July 30

"No amount of signatures will amend the law nor convince me to violate it by convening the impeachment court during recess and without complying with the requisite conditions precedent," the Senate chief said in a text message.

He said laws are "not bendable and should not bow to anyone's dictate" to convene the impeachment court while Congress is on break "simply because of their own desire, bias and timetable of wanting to rush the impeachment proceedings vs VP Sara."

The Senate chief has been fending off daily statements from House memebrs and from other Duterte critics who want trial to begin earlier than the July 30 timetable Escudero has proposed.

House prosecutor raises concerns on proposed timeline for VP Duterte impeachment trial

Manila Rep. Joel Chua, a member of the House prosecution panel, said a later start date would put evidence at risk of tampering and could affect witnesses' resolve to testify.

Members of the Makabayan bloc, meanwhile, have stressed that impeachment is an urgent matter and that trial should start as soon as possible.

Duterte's impeachment in early February and the proposed start of trial in late July has again raised questions on what the constitutional requirement to commence with proceedings "forthwith" means.

Diokno on Sara Duterte impeachment trial: 'Forthwith is agad-agad na gawin'

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