Senate holds caucus today on VP impeachment

The Senate will hold an all-member caucus today to discuss legislative matters as well as the Supreme Court (SC)'s decision to strike down the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte as unconstitutional, Senate President Francis Escudero announced yesterday.

- By NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS

Holding a caucus is a rare move under the leadership of Escudero, who typically favors open-floor deliberations over closed-door discussions.

Escudero said the main purpose of the caucus is to "discuss the work that needs to be done," but said proceeding with the impeachment would "most likely" be discussed.

Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada maintained that there should no longer be a trial because going against the SC decision is "flirting with constitutional crisis."

"It's useless, the Senate can't convene as impeachment court because the SC has already decided," Estrada told reporters.

It remains unclear whether the Senate would be voting to proceed with the impeachment during regular session or as an impeachment court, but Escudero stressed that the chamber needs to implement the SC decision.

'Pink' senators disagree with SC
Disagreeing with the SC decision, Senators Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino and Kiko Pangilinan said the House of Representatives and the Senate complied with its mandate in the 1987 Constitution to initiate, transmit and receive the Articles of Impeachment for trial.