How polls flipped Senate script on impeach trial

Before the 2025 midterm elections, the Senate left no doubt about its willingness to begin impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte. But after the polls? Certainty began to waver.

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After 215 House members impeached Duterte in February, all eyes were on the Senate to “proceed forthwith” with the trial as the Constitution mandates.

However, the transmitted articles of impeachment were not taken up on the Senate’s last plenary day before the break, leaving questions about when the proceedings would begin.

This was the first blow of criticism that the Senate, particularly Chiz Escudero as Senate president, received as the chamber’s sitting president.

Despite public clamor, even by legal luminaries, Escudero argued that impeachment proceedings could only start when the Senate is in session. He even made a whole schedule to assure the public it would happen and not be delayed.

But then came the election results. Escudero had informed the House that the articles would be presented on June 2—the day Congress resumed—but later postponed it to the last plenary day on June 11, citing the need to pass priority legislation first.

The Senate had the entire break, when no plenary sessions were held to vote on bills, to ideally know at least an estimate of priority measures that still needed attention.

At the same time, Escudero raised arguments that cast doubt on the continuity and fairness of the impeachment trial:

The Senate of the 20th Congress may opt not to proceed with the trial.

The impeachment court has “no limits” on what it can or cannot decide, citing the motion to dismiss, which was later revised to a motion to return the articles to the House.

As presiding officer, he claims he cannot enforce the rule barring senator-judges from commenting on the case’s merits, despite asserting the court has “no limits.”

So why a change of tune post-elections?

SENATE PRESIDENCY CHALLENGED