Duterte’s impeachment trial may begin on June 2 - Gatchalian

Metro Manila, Philippines - Another lawmaker thinks the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte could be held earlier than Senate President Chiz Escudero's timeline of holding it after the president's State of the Nation Address in July.

For Sen. Win Gatchalian, the trial may begin as early as June 2 when Congress resumes session.

“I’m sure doon na babasahin iyan. Doon na magkakaroon ng pag-uusap. At tingin ko pwede na rin i-convene right away iyong impeachment court dahil nga ganoon ang precedents,” he told DWIZ on Saturday, Feb. 22.

[Translation: I’m sure the [articles of impeachment] will be read and discussed on the floor. And I think the impeachment court can convene right away because of earlier precedents]

Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel previously sought to have the impeachment court convene in March, proposing an all-senators caucus to resolve differing views on the impeachment process.

For Gatchalian, the articles of impeachment must be presented and read before the lawmakers in the plenary.

“Ang naging kumplikasyon kasi dito sa impeachment na ito, una-una, late na dumating sa Senado. At pangalawa, last day pa. So, hindi na siya naipasok sa reference of business. Ibig sabihin, walang formal information sa mga senador na merong ganitong communication na articles of impeachment na dumating sa Senado,” said Gatchalian.

“Nakita ko na tama ang punto ni Senate President Chiz at sinusuportahan ko yan. Dahil nga mayroon tayong mga precedents, tatlong impeachment binasa siya sa floor, very clear na binasa siya sa floor,” he added.

[Translation: The complication with this impeachment, first of all, is that it arrived late at the Senate. Secondly, it arrived on the last day of the session. So, it was not included in the reference of business. This means there was no formal notification to the senators that such a communication, the articles of impeachment, had arrived at the Senate…I can see that Senate President Chiz is right, and I support that. Because we have precedents, three impeachments were read on the floor, it's very clear that it was read on the floor]

The articles of impeachment were transmitted to the upper chamber on Feb. 5 - Congress’ last session day. It was also when the House of Representatives voted to impeach Duterte over supposed graft and corruption and betrayal of public trust, among others.

Escudero earlier said the earliest the trial could happen is at the start of the 20th Congress in July, explaining that 12 senators will finish their term on June 30 which may affect the trial’s outcome.

In a message to reporters on Friday, the Senate President said he is open to Pimentel’s proposal to conduct a caucus among senators. He, however, rejected the minority leader’s suggestion to hold the trial in March while on break, saying it may have legal implications.

Gatchalian, for his part, said he is ready should Escudero call for a meeting.

On Feb. 19, Duterte asked the Supreme Court to block the basis of her looming impeachment trial on constitutional grounds.