Senate ready to try VP Sara

Escudero takes oath as impeachment court presiding officer

- By DHEL NAZARIO

Senate President Francis Escudero, after much wrangling and haggling among senators, took his oath last night, June 9, as presiding officer of the Senate impeachment court, signaling the Upper Chamber's readiness to try Vice President Sara Duterte.

Escudero's oath-taking took place after the senators agreed to refer the verified impeachment complaint to the Committee on Rules.

The senators also agreed that the other senators will take their oath today, June 10, as senator-judges.

On Wednesday, June 11, the Senate will officially convene as an impeachment court to begin proceedings on the impeachment complaint.

Before these agreements, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III had formally moved for the Senate to suspend all legislative business and immediately convene "at this very moment" as an impeachment court to begin proceedings against Vice President Duterte.

However, after a long caucus following suspension of session, senators agreed to tweak Pimentel's motion.

Sen. Joel Villanueva took the floor and moved that the Article of Impeachment be referred to the Committee on Rules. Escudero subsequently took his oath as presiding officer, while the other senators will take their oath as senator-judges today.

Too short for House prosecution Lawyer-solon 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, a member of the 11-person House prosecution panel, said the impeachment trial timeline being floated in the Senate doesn't provide ample time for them to properly present their evidence against Vice President Duterte.

"Personally, I don't think it would be possible on our part to just consolidate it with the two articles, the trail of the full Articles of Impeachment that we have lined up," Gutierrez said, referring to a consolidation proposal.

There are seven Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President.