Escudero Proposes New Schedule for Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who sits as presiding officer of the impeachment court, has made a proposal to conduct the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the morning to early afternoon once the plenary session resumes on July 27. “Pinanukala ko na po sa kanila na ikonsidera na gawing umaga ang impeachment trial 9 or 10 o’clock hanggang 2 o’clock ng hapon o apat o limang oras at ang sesyon ay 3 o’clock o alas-4 hanggang matapos na kami,” Escudero said in his podcast over the weekend. (I’ve proposed that they consider holding the impeachment trial in the morning—say, from 9 or 10 o’clock until 2 o’clock in the afternoon, or for four to five hours—and scheduling the session at 3 or 4 o’clock until we finish.) He said that it is Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian who has to decide on the proposed adjustments on the trial schedule. Currently, the impeachment trial is being held from Monday to Wednesday, beginning 2 p.m. Escudero pointed out that aside from the impeachment trial, the Senate also has to focus on the upcoming deliberations on the proposed 2027 national budget. “Kailangang mag-conduct ng hearings ng Senado. So habang wala pang ginagawa sa plenaryo, pwedeng suspendihin ang sesyon, suspendihin ang rules para makapag-hearing ‘yung ilang mga komite kaugnay ng budget o kaugnay ng ibang panukalang batas habang nagsesesyon ang Senado kung mga talumpati lang naman ang ide-deliver at wala namang botohan na mangyayari,” he explained. (The Senate needs to conduct hearings. So, while there’s not much happening on the floor—if the senators need only to deliver speeches and we don’t have to vote on anything---the session and the rules could be suspended to allow the committees to hold hearings on the budget or other proposed measures.) Escudero, a former Senate President, also stressed that the impeachment trial is only one of the many responsibilities of the senators as they still have to attend to their legislative work. “Patuloy pa rin ‘yung trabaho po naming bilang mga senador na pag-usapan, pag-botohan at magpasa ng mga makabuluhang panukalang batas na makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan, kabilang na po ‘yung taunang budget na pinakamahalagang batas na dapat ipasa ng Kongreso kada taon,” he explained. (We continue to fulfill our responsibility as senators—deliberating, voting on, and passing important bills that benefit our countrymen—including the annual budget, which is the most important piece of legislation Congress must pass every year.) Session in Congress is set to resume on July 27, coinciding with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA). — RSJ, GMA News