Senate President Francis Escudero dismissed allegations of foreign interference in the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, saying no country—including China or the United States—is influencing the proceedings.
“Whether it’s China, America, or any other country, I see no reason, justification, or basis for anyone to claim that we are being influenced or dictated to,” Escudero said during a radio interview on Thursday.
He emphasized that the Senate is operating independently and will follow legal procedures in handling the impeachment trial.
Escudero also confirmed that the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment in the Senate plenary will mark the formal start of proceedings.
Once the Senate convenes as an impeachment court, it will adopt the rules and issue summons to Duterte.
The House prosecution team earlier requested the Senate to summon Duterte during the congressional recess, but Escudero rejected the move.
He said the Senate cannot convene the impeachment court or act on the case without an active session.
“The problem is that some people are too eager and impatient, they want things done their way even if it violates the law. My advice to members of the House who are rushing to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte is to be cautious, as their haste might only give her more grounds to challenge the process,” he said.
Escudero also questioned whether some lawmakers were deliberately attempting to sabotage the impeachment case.
“Do they really want to sabotage the impeachment case they themselves filed, which is why they are insisting on this? Because that is the only explanation I can see for why they would push for something that is clearly stated in the law as not allowed,” he posed.
The impeachment process began in February when the House of Representatives impeached Duterte on allegations of constitutional violations, corruption and amassing unexplained wealth.
Escudero outlined a tentative timeline for the proceedings, beginning with the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment on June 2.
A summons to Duterte is expected to be issued on June 4, giving her 10 days to respond.
The prosecution will have five days to reply, potentially setting the stage for trial proceedings by June 19.
“Rushing things could actually cause more delays. It is best to strictly follow the law, no matter who benefits from it under the provisions and requirements,” he concluded.