Villanueva won’t push for special session to facilitate Senate VP impeachment

Senator Joel Villanueva on Tuesday said that he will not request a special session to expedite the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a chance interview, Villanueva explained that he would, however, comply should President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. ask Congress to hold a special session to address the matter.

“To answer your question, I myself will not ask for it, but if the President asks for it, I will comply willingly,” Villanueva said when asked whether he would request a special session.

On Thursday, Marcos indicated that he would be open to calling a special session if senators formally request one to tackle the impeachment proceedings against Duterte before the May 2025 elections.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero earlier said that the Senate would act on the impeachment complaints against Duterte once the session resumes on 2 June.

According to Escudero, who is also a lawyer, the Senate can only begin its impeachment proceedings against Duterte since a plenary session is required to convene the impeachment trial court.

“Legally it cannot be done. Again as I said because the impeachment court was not convened,” he told reporters during the Kapihan sa Senado when asked whether the Senate can start an impeachment trial while on break. 

“The impeachment complaint was not referred to the plenary for there to be a basis for the impeachment court to be convened by the Senate sitting as a legislative body and not as an impeachment court yet,” he added.

While noting that special sessions are typically called for the passage of important legislative measures, the Senate chief said that the Senate could address the impeachment complaint depending on the decision of the lawmakers.

The Senate adjourned its session on Wednesday without tackling the impeachment complaint against Duterte, despite the House of Representatives having transmitted the articles of impeachment to the chamber.

This was after a total of 215 lawmakers, or more than two-thirds of the House of Representatives members, supported the resolution to impeach Duterte.