Chiz unmoved by calls to start impeachment trial

Koko writing 2nd letter

- CECILLE SUERTE FELIPE

Senate President Francis Escudero is sticking to his timetable for starting the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, unmoved by calls, including a letter from Senate Minority Leader Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III to start it immediately.

Escudero said Duterte would be provided with a copy of the impeachment complaints after June 2, when Congress resumes session and the Senate convenes and establishes an impeachment court. "After June 2, if the rules authorizing me to issue a summons and a copy of the complaint are approved. She just needs to wait for the Senate's rules to be properly in place, and then they will receive enough time to respond to the impeachment complaint once they are served with a summons," Escudero said yesterday.

“In fact, a lawyer claiming to represent VP Sara wrote to request a certified true copy of the complaint. The secretariat’s response will be that we have uploaded it to the website because, in our view, we are not in a position to issue a certification for the impeachment since the House of Representatives prepared it. We merely accepted it, so if she wants a copy, she should request it from the House, but a copy is available on the Senate’s website,” he added.