SENATE President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero on Monday (June 2) reaffirmed that the plenary will ultimately decide on all impeachment matters pertaining to the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, as the upper chamber prepares for the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment on June 11, 2025.
In a press conference this morning, he emphasized that while the Senate President may initially set the schedule, the plenary remains the supreme body that determines the course of proceedings and the direction the impeachment court will take.
“The plenary is the supreme body of the Senate. It gets to decide anything and everything although at first instance, it can be decided by the Senate President but ultimately, it will have to be confirmed and affirmed or rejected for that matter by plenary,” Senate President Escudero pointed out.
The veteran legislator also clarified that the rescheduling of the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment does not favor either side of the prosecution or the defense since the date adjustment will not impede the Senate’s ability to proceed with the impeachment trial.
“Walang mapapaboran nito, walang masasaktan … Ang nakuha lang namin dito ay mas mahabang panahon para magawa ‘yung totoo talaga naming trabaho–ang magpasa ng makabuluhang batas,” he said.
He added that even if the Articles of Impeachment were presented on June 2, the Senate’s authority would still be constrained by the congressional calendar, as the impeachment court could only move forward within the established procedural timeframes.
Responding to concerns raised by Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III that the impeachment trial could have progressed sooner if the original timeline was followed, the Senate leader explained: “Nakalagay sa rules na 10 days from receipt. So kung June 3 napadala (ang summons), June 13 ang deadline, adjourned na ang Senado. Kung June 11 naman pinadala, ang 10 days will be on June 21 na adjourned na rin ang Senado by the time.”
Under Senate rules, the Vice President will have 10 days to respond to the summons once issued, while the House prosecutors will have five days to reply. On top of these, any motion or objection, would be deliberated in the plenary before the trial formally commences.
With only six plenary sessions remaining before the 19th Congress adjourns on June 14, Escudero stated that the full trial, if pursued, would be handled by the 20th Congress when it convenes on July 29, a day after the new Congress opens.
Based on the proposed schedule, the oath-taking of newly elected senator-judges before the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, will take place on July 29 at 9:00 am, followed by a plenary session in the afternoon. The trial proper will commence on July 30 from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm.
The impeachment trial timeline has been adjusted to begin on June 11 to allow the Senate to focus on pending priority legislation before the 19th Congress adjourns, as agreed during last week’s Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting in Malacanang.
The rescheduling aims to prioritize 12 bills, including amendments to the Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act, the E-Governance Act, and the Anti-POGO Act, which all require the Senate’s full attention before moving to impeachment proceedings.
The Bicolano senator assured that the Senate will convene as an impeachment court once the plenary decides on the next steps. “Plenaryo ang dapat magpasya n’yan … Pag-uusapan ‘yan sa susunod na mga araw marahil kapag nag-resume ang plenaryo lalong-lalo na sa itinakdang petsa kung hindi ito mababago ng plenaryo sa ika-11 ng Hunyo.”
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