Philippine VP Sara Duterte's Malaysia trip won't stall impeachment process
House of Representatives spokesperson Princess Abante addresses issues about the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte during a press briefing on Tuesday (June 10, 2025). Abante said House prosecutors are fully prepared to fulfill their constitutional duty once the Senate opens the trial of the impeachment case against Duterte. - Photo courtesy of House Press and Public Affairs Bureau
MANILA: The House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 10) said Vice President Sara Duterte's personal trip to Malaysia would not derail the impeachment proceedings against her, even as it urged the Senate to proceed with its constitutional duty to try the case.
'What is important is for the Senate to start the trial for the prosecutors to know the next step to take and what will happen to the impeachment process,' House spokesperson Princess Abante said in a press briefing.
Abante explained that procedural rules account for situations in which personal service of the Articles of Impeachment cannot be made.
'I believe in the impeachment rules, it is provided how to serve and notify the accused. The requirement is personal service, but the rules also provide on what to do if personal service cannot be made,' she said.
The statement came after the Office of the Vice President confirmed that Duterte had left for Malaysia on a personal trip with her family.
The OVP did not disclose when Duterte departed but said she is also expected to attend the Philippines' Independence Day celebration in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday (June 12) and will engage in a consultation programme with overseas Filipino workers during her trip.
Duterte's travel comes just days before the impeachment proceedings against her are set to begin, with the Senate scheduled to convene as an impeachment court on June 11.
Senate President Francis Escudero took his oath as presiding officer, while the rest of the senators are expected to take theirs as judges.
Under Senate rules, the chamber will read the Articles of Impeachment on June 11 and issue a summons to Duterte.
She will then have 10 days to respond, followed by five days for House prosecutors to file their reply.
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on Feb 5 on charges of culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.
The impeachment complaint also cited her public admission of an alleged assassination plot against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez; alleged bribery of DepEd officials; unexplained wealth; failure to declare assets in her Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth; and supposed links to extrajudicial killings during her father's administration.
As mandated by the 1987 Constitution, a conviction requires the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of all members of the Senate, or 16 out of 24 senators.
If convicted, Duterte would be removed from office and barred from holding any future public position.
Meanwhile, Abante said the House prosecutors are fully prepared and continue to review the case ahead of the formal trial.
'The House is ready to fulfill its role in the impeachment trial. The House prosecutors have fully prepared and continue to prepare. We are just waiting for the formal start of the impeachment trial,' she said. - PNA via Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
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