Senator Risa Hontiveros meets with the back of Chiz Escudero while airing her thoughts about the repeated delays in the impeachment trial
Senator Chiz Escudero leaves his seat while Senator Risa Hontiveros speaks about the delays in the impeachment trial of VP Sara Duterte.
Senate President Francis Escudero said on Monday that the end of the 19th Congress this month will stall the impeachment proceedings at the Senate against Vice President Sara Duterte. It will accordingly be up to the 20th Congress to decide whether to hold the impeachment or not.
“Nakakabahala na ang paulit-ulit na antala sa proseso ng impeachment trial. Buwan na ang binibilang natin. Sobra-sobra na ang paghihintay ng mga Pilipino. Let us all hope this is the last delay,” said Senatoe Risa Hontiveros on Monday, June 2.
She underscored that the Senate’s constitutional obligations cannot be further postponed. Hontiveros added that any further delays violate the constitution, which states that the “Senate must forthwith proceed with an impeachment trial” – not if “kapag ready na,” not if “kapag convenient.”
“We owe it to the Filipino people to convene as an impeachment court and begin the proceedings at the soonest possible time,” she expressed.
Before she aired her thoughts in her privilege speech, she initially asked the Senate chief if she could discuss the matter about the impeachment trial, which received “Yes, you may” from Escudero.
However, when she started discussing the sensitive matter, the Senate chief left his seat and returned only when she was done.
The six major allegations in the impeachment trial are:
- Conspiracy to Assassinate President Marcos, First Lady, and Speaker Romualdez
- Malversation of P612.5 Million in Confidential Funds
- Bribery and Corruption in DepEd
- Unexplained Wealth and Failure to Disclose Assets
- Involvement in Extrajudicial Killings (Davao Death Squad)
- Destabilization, Insurrection, and Public Disorder
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