Chiz rejects House call for Senate to summon Sara

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate as an impeachment court will no longer accept any requests to move deadlines or any delaying tactics regarding the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, the leader of the chamber said.

Senate President Francis Escudero rejected the House prosecution panel’s request to immediately summon the Vice President to answer the Articles of Impeachment against her.

“We cannot do what they are asking for simply because we are not in session. They should know about it,” he said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum yesterday.

Escudero maintained that Duterte can only be sent a summons or asked to comment once the impeachment court is convened, which can only happen when the Senate is in session.

Congress went on break on Feb. 7 and will resume session on June 2.

He emphasized that June 2 is the earliest date the impeachment court can convene, while June 3 is the soonest they could issue a writ of summons to the Vice President.

In a motion filed on Tuesday, House prosecutors led by minority leader and 4Ps party-list Rep. Marcelino Libanan requested the Senate to issue a writ of summons to compel Duterte to respond regarding the Articles of Impeachment against her.

“Articles of impeachment can only be presented when the Senate is in session, and the impeachment court can only be convened through the swearing in of Senate members. This can only happen when Congress is in session; it cannot be done during recess, and the distinction between the two is clear,” Escudero said in response to Libanan.

The Senate President further advised the prosecutors not to rush the proceedings, as doing so might leave them vulnerable.

At the same time, Escudero expressed confidence that the Senate would be able to pass more bills during the last six session days of the 19th Congress in June, even as it convenes as an impeachment court.

At a press conference, Libanan clarified that they are not pressuring the Senate, but rather only performing their constitutional duty.–  Jose Rodel Clapano, Delon Porcalla