Chiz sets start of impeachment trial on July 30

As he continues to parry accusations of foot-dragging, Senate President Francis Escudero has proposed a calendar for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, beginning with presentation of the Articles of Impeachment at the start of session on June 2, oathtaking of senator-judges the following day, and formal start of trial on July 30.

- MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB

Based on his proposed timetable, Escudero will read the Articles of Impeachment during session on June 2 and have the chamber approve revised Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials.

Escudero proposed the oathtaking as judges of the incumbent senators on June 3, so that summons can be promptly issued, pleadings received, and a pre-trial undertaken from June 4 to July 25.

With the terms in office of some senators expiring on June 30, Escudero proposed the drafting of a new rule that would “provide clear guidance on the procedure to be followed in case the trial is not concluded before the sine die adjournment of Congress” from June 14 to July 27.

As for the 12 incoming senators in the next 20th Congress, Escudero proposed they take their oaths as judges on July 29.

In Escudero’s proposal, trial formally starts on July 30, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., to give senators enough time to perform their legislative duties during the 3 p.m. session.

The Senate president included his proposed timeline in his Feb. 24 letter to all senators where he laid down the legal grounds for tackling the impeachment complaint during open session, and not during break.

‘Best option’

For former Senate president Franklin Drilon, setting the start of the impeachment trial of Duterte for July 30 or after the 19th Congress is Escudero’s “best option.”

He also said the Supreme Court can no longer intervene once the Senate is convened as an impeachment court.

“Senate President (Francis) Escudero cannot do anything to start the impeachment trial because the impeachment trial cannot start if there is no session of the Senate. The session will start in June. So, it is only by then that the impeachment will be constituted,” Drilon said in an interview with “Storycon” on One News.