Senate President Francis Escudero says senators are still busy with the caucus on the impeachment of VP Sara Duterte.
Senate President Francis Escudero ruled out the possibility of an all-senator caucus on VP Sara Duterte impeachment despite the calls for it.
215 of 306 House members have signed the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. This made her the first vice president of the Philippines to be impeached after she neglected calls to clarify the massive spending of confidential funds of her offices and other allegations.
The six major allegations regarding the complaint are misusing public funds while being the vice president and education department head; unexplained wealth; death threats to the president; bribery and corruption; involvement in extrajudicial killings; and destabilization, insurrection, and public disorder.
Recently, Senate President Francis Escudero expressed that an all-senator caucus for now is still not in sight. This is despite the calls of other senators for this. He asked the senators, and some of them are busy for it while some expressed no interest. There were also those who are traveling, and some are currently abroad.
“As I said, no matter what we do, we cannot start anything without a session. Whatever we agree on will not be official because any vote we take can still change once we resume or formally convene,” he added.
As per him, there are no plans for a formal caucus regarding the impending trial. He stressed that there are no delays as the Senate is acting according to the legal and constitutional procedures.
Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros supports the call for an “all-senator caucus” on the impeachment of the vice president. She agrees to this as this way, the stand of senators regarding the matter will be revealed.
“It can be said that even though the Senate has adjourned its regular session, it doesn’t mean it cannot proceed and fulfill its duties in the impeachment trial,” Hontiveros said.
The female senator backed the stance of Senate minority leader Aquilino Pimentel III, citing what is mandated in the Constitution, which is the immediate commencement of the impeachment trial, whether or not the Senate is in session.
However, while she agreed with Pimentel, she also acknowledged Escudero’s stance that the Senate can’t convene as an impeachment court while the session is adjourned.
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