Manila, Philippines – Senator Cynthia Villar has spoken up about the challenge of holding an impeachment trial for Vice President Sara Duterte while senators are preparing for the upcoming Eleksyon 2025. She believes it would be unfair to expect senators to prioritize the trial over their own campaigns.
Election vs. Impeachment: What’s More Important?
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has insisted that senators should focus on their responsibilities first before hitting the campaign trail. However, Senator Villar responded with skepticism, saying:
“Can you tell that to the senators? Can the Senate President tell that to the senators?”
She explained that unlike the House of Representatives, where members might have certain benefits for supporting impeachment, senators are not easily influenced because they have their own financial resources.
Timing Issues: Why Was the Impeachment Filed So Late?
Senator Villar also questioned the timing of the Articles of Impeachment. She pointed out that the House of Representatives transmitted the impeachment complaint on the very last day of the Senate session before recess. This made it impossible for senators to take immediate action.
“What can we do? It was the last day of session, and we were about to leave. Why did they wait until the last day to send it? Did they suddenly decide they wanted an impeachment?” Villar asked.
She emphasized that the trial was not on the Senate’s schedule and suggested that if it were truly urgent, the House should have submitted it earlier.
Senate President’s Decision: Trial to Start in July
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has assured the public that the Senate will proceed with the impeachment trial, but only once they are back in session. He has tentatively set July 30 as the trial’s start date.
Escudero also stressed that the impeachment process should follow legal procedures rather than being influenced by public pressure.
Support for Senate President Escudero
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has expressed his support for Escudero’s approach, stating that previous impeachment cases followed a similar timeline. He reviewed past cases, including those of former President Joseph Estrada, Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, and Chief Justice Renato Corona. In all these cases, he said, the Articles of Impeachment were first read on the Senate floor before proceedings started.
Gatchalian explained that because the impeachment was sent on the last day of session, senators didn’t have the chance to formally acknowledge it, causing delays.
Legal Challenges and Supreme Court Petitions
As the impeachment trial looms, Vice President Sara Duterte has taken the matter to the Supreme Court, challenging the legality of the complaint. Several groups, including lawyers from Mindanao, have also filed petitions arguing that the complaint is flawed and should be dismissed.
On the other hand, some groups are pushing for the Senate to begin the trial immediately, claiming that any delay is an obstruction of justice.
What Happens Next?
With senators balancing election campaigns and an impeachment trial, the Philippines faces a political crossroad. While some demand immediate action, others believe due process must be followed. The real question is: Will the impeachment trial proceed fairly, or will politics get in the way?
For now, all eyes are on July 30, when the Senate is expected to convene and decide the fate of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
