Senate President Francis Escudero yesterday said that no amount of signatures would amend the law or persuade him to violate it by initiating impeachment proceedings during a recess by the two-chamber Congress.
“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,” he said.
The Senate chief added that the law is firm and should not be influenced by individual preferences, biases, or political timelines aimed at expediting the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The House of Representatives filed an impeachment complaint against Duterte on Feb. 5, 2025, citing allegations of budget misuse, illicit wealth accumulation, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other officials.
Duterte denied the accusations and challenged the impeachment before the Supreme Court, arguing that the House committed “grave abuse of discretion” by violating a constitutional ban on multiple impeachments within a year.
Her petition seeks to nullify the impeachment and block a Senate trial that could remove her from office and prevent her from seeking future elective positions.
The constitution mandates the Senate to act as an impeachment court once the House transmits the articles of impeachment.
But Escudero has clarified that the Senate can only address the complaint when Congress reconvenes on June 2, 2025, following the midterm elections.
He stated that senators must take an oath while Congress is in session before they can formally act as an impeachment court.
“The law is not bendable and should not bow to anyone’s dictate simply because of their own desire, bias and timetable of wanting to rush the impeachment proceedings vs. VP Sara,” he concluded.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Escudero firm on not convening impeachment court during recess.”