Senate Weighs in on Impeachment Trial Delay
Several senators have voiced contrasting opinions regarding the Senate President’s decision to postpone the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte from June 2 to June 11, 2025. The key issue at hand is the senate’s balancing act between legislative duties and its constitutional role as an impeachment court.
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada supports the postponement, highlighting the importance of passing priority bills before the session ends. He said, “While among the functions and the responsibilities of the Senate is to act as an impeachment court, the primary mandate is to legislate… and the passage of the priority bills should take precedence.” Estrada also noted that the delay aligns with agreements made during the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting.
Addressing criticisms, Estrada reassured that the Senate remains constitutionally bound to hear the impeachment case. “As long as we are really bound to hear the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, it is our constitutional duty to hear it,” he added. He dismissed rumors of leadership conflicts, stating, “As far as I know, walang ganun na mangyayari. Walang kudeta.” On the possibility of continuing the trial into the next Congress, Estrada mentioned that the Supreme Court is already handling related matters.
Balancing Legislation and Impeachment Court Duties
Estrada also confirmed that legislative work and impeachment trials can proceed simultaneously, recalling the 2012 impeachment of former Chief Justice Renato Corona as precedent. He is preparing for a possible second impeachment trial as a senator by consulting his legal team to fully understand the charges.
In contrast, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III criticized the delay, emphasizing the need to prioritize the impeachment trial. “Ang position ko nga February pa, pwede na start i-convene ang impeachment court,” he said. He pointed out that the Senate had earlier adopted a calendar, and the June 2 date was set but is now being postponed again. Pimentel expressed concern that this move contradicts the spirit of immediacy required by the Constitution.
He also shared that he briefly raised the postponement issue with the Senate President during the LEDAC meeting. Pimentel plans to bring the matter to the plenary for clearer explanations. Moreover, he urged a review of Senate rules, stressing that impeachment proceedings should take priority over legislative matters when they coincide. He emphasized, “Ang spirit ng impeachment: you give it priority,” and reminded that the Constitution demands prompt completion of impeachment trials.
Support for Legislative Priorities Over Impeachment
Senator Imee Marcos supports the Senate leadership’s decision, arguing that the country’s welfare should come first. “Dapat naman talaga unahin ang mga priority measures na ito dahil ito ang makakatulong sa bayan at hindi yung impeachment na pamumulitika lang,” she remarked.
Similarly, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who has three bills pending in the Committee on Ways and Means—the Anti-POGO Bill, Denatured Alcohol Bill, and a proposal to increase vape taxes—backed the postponement. He attended the LEDAC meeting where it was agreed to pass 12 priority bills before the 19th Congress ends. Gatchalian explained, “Some of the committees will have to conduct BiCams, consultative meetings and even hearings to finalize the 12 bills.”
He concluded by supporting the Senate’s focus on completing legislative priorities over the next two weeks before shifting to impeachment proceedings.
In summary, the Senate is currently balancing its constitutional impeachment role with legislative responsibilities, sparking debate on whether the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte should proceed immediately or be delayed to prioritize passing key laws.
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