VP Sara Duterte in The Hague, Impeachment Proceedings Postponed by Senate
SARA DUTERTE – The Vice President revealed her side on the delay of her impeachment proceedings as announced by Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero.
The Senate initially scheduled the presentation of the articles of impeachment by the House of Representatives’ prosecution team on June 2. It will be followed by the convention of the impeachment court on June 3.
During the said impeachment proceedings, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte will be in The Hague to visit her father, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Dutere. She is currently in The Netherlands with her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, and Senator Imee Marcos.
However, a few days ahead of the supposed start of the impeachment trial proceedings, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero announced that there will be a change in the schedule. The impeachment proceedings will be moved to June 11 from June 2.
According to Escudero, the changes in the schedule of the impeachment proceedings is due to the measures that the Senate and the House have to pass before the 19th Congress ends in June 14. He stressed that they still have 12 measures to pass and the Commission on Appointments has over 200 presidential appointments to review.
The announcement of the Senate President triggered different speculations and reactions. Several lawmakers in the House as well as some former officials in the government doubt if there would really be a trial.
Sen. Koko Pimentel who Escudero allowed to help in the drafting of the rules of impeachment said he will ask the Senate President about the change in schedule. According to him, there is a provision in the impeachment rules that gives more weight to an impeachment proceeding over the chamber’s legislative agenda.
The Senate Chief previously turned down several calls to immediately start the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. On the other side, he assured that it will push through despite the detention of former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte in The Hague.
Recently, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte who is currently in The Hague was asked about the delay in the impeachment proceedings against her. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, the Vice President claimed that it has no effects on her.
According to Duterte, she thought of the possible impact of the delay of the impeachment proceedings to her but she will just leave it to her lawyers to think its possible effect if there is.
“Wala naman siyang epekto sa akin. Nag-isip lang ako kung ano ang epekto ng delay pero iiwan na natin yan sa mga lawyers namin, sa defense na pag-isipan kung ano ang epekto noon kung meron man,” the Vice President said.
At The Hague, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte was also asked about the reconciliation remarks of Pres. Bongbong Marcos. The Chief Executive previously claimed that he is open to reconcile with the Duterte family.
Let a ‘Rules on Falsity’ be formed and established for observance not only by all legal professionals but also by adjudications or by determining processes . .