Update on Impeachment Case Against VP Sara Duterte amid Looming Trial
SARA DUTERTE – Four (4) to six (6) senators agree to start the impeachment trial of the Vice President on August 4.
Following the return of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Duterte to the House of Representatives which Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero clarified as not a dismissal or termination of the case, many people doubted if the trial will push through or not. The senator judges questioned the constitutionality of the impeachment of the Vice President and required a reconfirmation from the 20th Congress to tackle it.
Duterte-ally senators want the dismissal of the impeachment case. On the other side, many senators and incoming lawmakers in the Senate believe that the impeachment trial will push through.
Sen. Raffy Tulfo claimed he is against the dismissal of the impeachment case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. According to him, it is better if the Vice President will be able to clear her name through the trial than simply junking the case.
The latest survey of the Social Weather Station or SWS also revealed that more Filipinos believe that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte must address the impeachment charges against her. Recently, Sen. Joel Villanueva gave an update on the impeachment trial of the Vice President.
Based on a report on Inquirer, Sen. Joel Villanueva claimed they are eyeing to start the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte on August 4 or a week after the 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) of Pres. Bongbong Marcos.
“It looks like we are going to wait for one week to organize ourselves as a Senate, including the committees, etc. and the [House of Representatives] as well. And then the week after, we can convene the impeachment court and have the defense and the prosecution present their cases,” he said.
Sen. Joel Villanueva claimed that the week prior to the eyed date for the start of the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte can be the chance for them to decide on matters like the Senate leadership. Based on the report, four to six senators agree on the proposed date to start the trial of the Vice President.
Currently, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero and incoming Sen. Tito Sotto are eyed to vie for the top post in the chamber. According to Sen. JV Ejercito, it is a tough decision for him to make but he will support Escudero amid his gratitude to Sotto.