Latest news with #FrancisEscudero
Free Malaysia Today
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Philippine senate to convene impeachment court next month
Philippine vice-president Sara Duterte's hearings will begin in late July, after incoming senators take their seats. (AP pic) MANILA : The Philippine senate will convene the impeachment court that will decide the future of vice-president Sara Duterte on June 3, according to a document seen by AFP on Friday. Duterte was impeached by the house of representatives in February for 'high crimes' including corruption and an alleged assassination plot against former ally and running mate president Ferdinand Marcos. Senate president Francis Escudero has said hearings would begin in late July after incoming senators take their seats. The impeachment trial was a key talking point in this month's mid-term elections, which decided half the upper body's 24 senators who will serve as her jury. Escudero informed house speaker Martin Romualdez that the upper house would be ready to hear charges on June 2 before convening the court, according to a photo of the letter forwarded to AFP. 'As stated in our letter dated Feb 24, 2025, the Senate shall expect the prosecution to read the seven charges under the articles of impeachment in open session,' Escudero said in the letter dated May 19, 2025. 'Thereafter, the senate shall be convened as an impeachment court at 9am on June 3, 2025 for the purpose of issuing the summons and such other relevant orders,' it continues. The vice-president needs nine votes from the full 24-seat senate for an acquittal. Losing would mean her removal and a permanent ban from public office. Analysts told AFP last week that the outcome of the May 12 election appeared positive for Duterte, who saw an ally snare an unexpected seat while the president's ticket scored one fewer than predicted. Duterte swept to power in 2022 in an alliance with Marcos that began crumbling almost immediately. The feud exploded into open warfare this year with her impeachment and the subsequent arrest and transfer of her father, ex-president Rodrigo Duterte, to face charges at the international criminal court at the Hague tied to his deadly drug war. Marcos said in a podcast interview after the elections he was willing to reconcile with the Duterte clan but maintained that he had no involvement in the impeachment process. 'Let's leave that to the senate, which has its own processes for it,' Marcos said. The vice-president's office did not respond immediately to AFP's request for comment.
CNA
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Philippine Senate to convene impeachment court for VP Duterte next month
MANILA: The Philippine Senate will convene the impeachment court that will decide the future of Vice President Sara Duterte on Jun 3, according to a document seen by AFP on Friday (May 23). Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives in February for "high crimes" including corruption and an alleged assassination plot against former ally and running mate President Ferdinand Marcos. Senate President Francis Escudero has said hearings would begin in late July after incoming senators take their seats. The impeachment trial was a key talking point in this month's mid-term elections, which decided half the upper body's 24 senators who will serve as her jury. Escudero informed House Speaker Martin Romualdez that the upper house would be ready to hear charges on Jun 2 before convening the court, according to a photo of the letter forwarded to AFP. "As stated in our letter dated February 24, 2025, the Senate shall expect the prosecution to read the seven charges under the Articles of Impeachment in open session," Escudero said in the letter dated May 19. "Thereafter, the Senate shall be convened as an impeachment court at 9 o'clock in the morning of June 3, 2025 for the purpose of issuing the summons and such other relevant orders," it continues. The vice president needs nine votes from the full 24-seat Senate for an acquittal. Losing would mean her removal and a permanent ban from public office. Analysts told AFP last week that the outcome of the May 12 election appeared positive for Duterte, who saw an ally snare an unexpected seat while the president's ticket scored one fewer than predicted.
Libya Review
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Libya Review
Philippines Criticises US Deportation Plan to Libya
The President of the Philippine Senate, Francis Escudero, has strongly condemned an alleged US plan to deport Asian migrants, including Filipinos, to Libya. He described the move as a 'cruel act' and urged the United States to treat Filipino nationals with dignity. 'Filipinos are not camels to be thrown into the Libyan desert,' Escudero said, according to a statement published on the official Senate website. 'They are human beings who deserve full rights from a country that claims to care for and support them.' Escudero insisted that if the US wished to deport Filipino nationals, they should be repatriated directly to the Philippines. 'There is absolutely no need for such cruelty by exporting them to a third country,' he said. 'All we ask is for our brothers and sisters to return home with dignity, not to be handed over to a foreign prison in a country that does not want them.' The Senate highlighted strong condemnation from human rights organisations and foreign governments over reported US immigration actions targeting millions of undocumented migrants, including Asians. The statement referred to Libya as a 'war-torn nation with a record of harsh treatment of detainees.' A federal judge in the US has temporarily halted the deportation of Asian migrants to Libya, citing a prior ruling that gives migrants the right to challenge their transfer to a third country. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that a lawyer representing a Filipino migrant said his client was verbally informed of his planned deportation to Libya, though no written notice was provided. Former President Donald Trump has pledged to remove undocumented migrants with criminal records, and several US media outlets have reported plans to transfer some to third countries such as Libya. Tags: DeportationlibyamigrantsPhilippinesus
Bloomberg
10-02-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Philippines Vice President Duterte Impeachment Trial to Start in July, Senate Chief Says
Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial will start when a new Congress convenes in July, Senate President Francis Escudero said, ruling out the chances of a special session while lawmakers are on election break. Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on Feb. 5, ahead of their recess, for charges including plotting to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and misuse of public funds. The vice president, daughter of ex-leader Rodrigo Duterte, has denied the accusations. The Senate, which will sit as impeachment court, adjourned on the same day without tackling the impeachment complaint.
