Lawmakers rue delays in VP Sara's impeachment trial

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, on Tuesday, June 3, lamented the Senate's stance on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, saying this was the first time she was seeing the Upper Chamber "dribbling" its constitutional mandate.

- By HANNAH L. TORREGOZA

"Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng bola na dini-dribble ng apat na buwan. Kahit naman sa basketball, may shot clock (This is the first time I am seeing a ball being dribbled for four months. Even in basketball, there's a shot clock)," Hontiveros said.

"Convening as an impeachment court and commencing trial is expressly mandated by the Constitution. And yet this process has been delayed and dragged on for four long months," she said.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Monday, said it is the plenary that will ultimately decide on all impeachment matters pertaining to the trial of the vice president.

This, even as the Senate prepares for the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment on June 11, 2025. Escudero had moved the scheduled presentation from June 2 to June 11, much to the dismay of some senators.

The Senate leader defended the move, saying the institution has to prioritize the passage of important measures in the next six days of its session.

But Hontiveros said she sees the delay as "no longer procedural."