Latest news with #Escudero
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
De Lima: Resked of impeach raps reading meant to 'kill' Sara trial
Incoming ML Partylist representative Leila de Lima raised alarm Friday over the Senate's decision to move the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte from June 2 to June 11, calling it a potential strategy to derail the process. "Isa 'yan sa mga senyales na sa tingin ko, may nangyayari. Sa tingin ko, mayroon nang ganyang usapan—na kino-consider na nila 'yan to kill the impeachment trial," said De Lima, who is set to join the House impeachment prosecution panel. (I think that's one of the signs that something's happening. I think with these discussions, they are considering to kill the impeachment trial.) De Lima aired her concern at the Agenda at the Club Filipino news forum, warning that by the time June 11 arrives, the Senate might simply vote not to proceed with the trial. "Ang nai-imagine ko na, na come June 11, sasabihin na naman nila, 'Okay, hindi na puwede. Let's put it to a vote.' Hindi tayo makakasiguro na majority of them will say, 'Okay, let's proceed,'" she said. "I can only foresee na on that last day, sasabihin na lang nila na hindi na puwede." (I would imagine that come June 11, they'll say, 'Okay, we can't do it anymore. Let's put it to a vote.' We can't be assured that majority of them will say, 'Okay, let's proceed.') Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero earlier informed the House of Representatives that the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment has been reset to June 11, just three days before Congress adjourns sine die on June 14. In a letter to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Escudero said both chambers needed to prioritize legislation under the administration's agenda, and address over 200 presidential appointments still pending confirmation by the Commission on Appointments. "With only six session days before the sine die adjournment, it is imperative for the Senate and the House of Representatives to prioritize the passage of these measures," Escudero said. GMA Integrated News has requested comment from Escudero regarding De Lima's statements, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. Meanwhile, De Lima also suggested that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s public remarks distancing himself from the issue may have influenced the Senate's handling of the timeline. "Sa mga public statements na 'yon, may epekto rin 'yan sa dilly-dally [ng impeachment] (Those statements have an effect on the dillying-dallying of the impeachment process)," she said. Malacañang said Friday the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte is beyond the reach of Marcos. The President has previously said that he was not in favor of the impeachment trial as it would take away Congress' focus from the passage of critical pieces of legislation. De Lima questioned the repeated delays, noting that even in the House, the initial transmission of the articles was held off due to budget deliberations. "I'm also questioning that—kasi ilang beses na ba namo-move (because it's been moved repeatedly)?" she said. "Hindi agad pinadala noon kasi ang excuse nila is budget hearing. Prioritized ang budget hearing bago kinonsider ang mga complaint." (Back then, it wasn't transmitted right away because their excuse was that there were budget hearings. However, budget hearings are prioritized before complaints are considered.) De Lima argued that the Senate should have acted on the impeachment trial as soon as the House voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, and transmitted the complaint last February. "That term 'shall forthwith' is there in the Constitution—nilabag na agad 'yon eh at that point (it was violated right away at that point)," she said, referring to the constitutional requirement that the Senate must proceed with the trial immediately after receiving the Articles of Impeachment. Also on Friday, Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel said he would ask Escudero about his decision to move the presentation of articles, noting that the later had issued an "impeachment calendar" months ago. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Senate postpones presentation of impeachment articles against VP Sara Duterte to June 11
Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero has announced that the House of Representatives' prosecution panel will now present the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte on June 11, instead of the previously scheduled June 2. Escudero explained that the Senate and the House of Representatives must focus on approving key pieces of legislation aligned with the administration's priorities before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die on June 14. In a letter to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Escudero emphasized the limited time remaining—just six session days—to pass measures from the administration's legislative agenda and to confirm over 200 presidential appointees through the Commission on Appointments. He referenced the recent meeting of the Legislative-Executive Development Council (LEDAC), where lawmakers agreed to pass several priority bills, including amendments to the Foreign Investors' Long-Term Lease Act, the E-Governance Act, and the Anti-POGO Act, among others. Escudero also noted pending confirmations for three cabinet members, four constitutional commission officials, 39 foreign service officers, and 277 other presidential appointees.
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Pimentel questions schedule change in reading of impeachment raps vs. VP Sara
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel said on Friday that he would ask Senate President Francis Escudero about his decision to move the presentation of articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte. 'We have to ask SP his thought processes and how come he is now changing his own 'impeachment calendar' issued months ago,' he said. The presentation of the articles of impeachment has been moved from June 2 to June 11. In a letter to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Escudero said the Senate and the House of Representatives needed to prioritize the passage of the items in the administration's legislative agenda before the 19th Congress adjourned sine die on June 14. Pimentel said that the legislative agenda of the Congress should give way to the impeachment proceedings. 'Meron kasi section or provision in our impeachment rules that gives the directive, that should there be both legislative and impeachment matters, the legislative agenda should give way to the impeachment proceedings,' he added. Escudero was referring to the meeting on Thursday of the Legislative-Executive Development Council (LEDAC), which resolved to pass measures listed in the legislative agenda within the 19th Congress. Among the priority measures are the Amendments to the Universal Health Care Act, Konektadong Pinoy Act, E-Governance Act, creation of the Virology Institute of the Philippines, Anti-POGO Act, among others. The Senate President also said there were over 200 presidential appointees whose appointments have to be reviewed and confirmed by the bicameral Commission on Appointments. Meanwhile, other Senators said the upper chamber must prioritize the approval of several priority measures. 'The passage of the priority bills should take precedence as asserted by Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero as sine die adjournment marks the official end of our regular session,' said Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, noting that this was agreed upon during the LEDAC meeting. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, meanwhile, noted that the Senate only has six session days, adding that committees will have to conduct bicameral and consultative meetings and even hearings to finalize the 12 priority measures. 'Having said that, I do agree to devote the next two weeks to finish the remaining bills and other legislative priorities before converting itself into an impeachment court,' he said. Meanwhile, Senator Imee Marcos, who is with Duterte in the Netherlands, also agreed that the Senate must focus its attention on the passage of the said measures. 'Dapat naman talaga unahin ang mga priority measures na ito dahil ito ang makakatulong sa bayan at hindi yung impeachment na pamumulitika lang,' she said. (These priority measures should really be prioritized because they will help the people and not impeachment, which is just politicking.) — BAP, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Senate to release rules for Sara Duterte's impeachment trial in June
The Senate is expected to release the official rules that will govern the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte when Congress resumes session in June, Senate spokesperson Arnel Bañas said. 'Yun pong rules ng impeachment, ang wari ko po ito po ay madedesisyunan na po ngayong Hunyo at mapa-publish na po ito para malaman ng sambayanan, ng ating both prosecutor and defense, 'yung rules and regulations na susundin para sa impeachment ng ating Bise Presidente,' Bañas said in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB. Earlier, Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero clarified that there will be no changes to the impeachment rules. However, he noted that the Senate may adopt new mechanisms similar to those implemented by regular courts to expedite the process. Meanwhile, Bañas noted that the scheduled reading of the Articles of Impeachment on June 2 would be a historic first. 'Kasi iniisip ko 'yung impeachment ni President Erap (Joseph Ejercito Estrada) at ni dating Chief Justice [Renato] Corona, wala akong natatandaan na binasa ang articles of impeachment sa Senado e. Parang ito yata yung unang pagkakataon na pupunta ang prosecution panel para basahin ang Articles of Impeachment,' he said. In a letter to the House of Representatives, Escudero explained that reading the articles in plenary is required under Senate rules and serves as the formal trigger for convening the Senate as an impeachment court. 'The reading of the Articles of Impeachment in plenary by the prosecutors is stated in our rules. And then the Senate can take cognizance of it, and that will now be used as the basis to convene the impeachment court,' Escudero said in his letter. Once the trial begins, Bañas said senators will have to balance their roles as lawmakers and members of the impeachment court. 'Tuloy-tuloy po yung tungkulin ng mga senador upang magbalangkas ng mga batas at pag-usapan ang mga dapat pag-usapan,' he said. According to Bañas, the Senate is expected to convene as an impeachment court at 9 a.m. and resume plenary sessions at 3 p.m. The House of Representatives impeached Vice President Duterte on February 5, with more than 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. She was charged with betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. Escudero previously released a tentative timetable for the impeachment proceedings, with the trial expected to begin on July 30. For her part, Vice President Duterte said she is looking forward to her impeachment trial in the 20th Congress, adding that she 'wants a bloodbath,' and that her legal team is on 'full throttle' in preparation.
Filipino Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Filipino Times
Senate impeachment court to open VP Duterte trial on June 3
The Senate will officially convene as an impeachment court on June 3 to begin proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, following Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero's proposed timeline. In a letter dated May 19, Escudero informed House Speaker Martin Romualdez that the impeachment court will open at 9:00 a.m., initiating the issuance of summons and other procedural orders. The Articles of Impeachment will be read in open session on June 2, the first day of session resumption. 'Pursuant to Rule I of the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials… the Senate shall be ready to receive the House of Representatives' panel of prosecutors at 4 o'clock in the afternoon of June 2,' Escudero stated. He confirmed that the prosecution panel is expected to read all seven charges outlined in the Articles of Impeachment, which include allegations of misuse of confidential funds and issuing threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family. Duterte is the first sitting vice president to be impeached by the House, prompting a Senate trial. Eleven House lawmakers will serve as prosecutors, while all 24 senators will act as judges, with Escudero presiding. Escudero earlier ruled out the possibility of convening the trial during the congressional break, insisting it must start once Congress resumes. Although he released a proposed trial calendar in February, it remains subject to Senate approval. Under this timeline, the formal opening of the trial is set for July 30.
