Senate postpones Articles of Impeachment presentation vs Duterte

The Senate is postponing the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero announced Thursday.

According to Escudero, the presentation was originally set for 2 June but was moved to 11 June to give the Senate time to address priority legislative measures before the 19th Congress adjourns.

“With only six session days before the sine die adjournment, it is imperative for the Senate and the House of Representatives to prioritize the passage of these measures, consistent also with the administration's thrust to align our government with the people's needs and expectations,” he said in a letter sent to House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The letter, dated 29 May, was also transmitted to the Office of Vice President Duterte, who is currently in The Hague, Netherlands, along with her mother, Elizabeth Zimmerman, and Senator Imee Marcos.

Her father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, is currently detained at the International Criminal Court (ICC) Detention Center in Scheveningen, The Hague, Netherlands, for crimes against humanity related to his administration’s bloody drug war.

Tight schedule

Escudero explained that the postponement was part of discussions he held with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Speaker Romualdez during their Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting earlier in the day.

Among the priority measures are the Anti-POGO Act, Denatured Alcohol Tax, Judicial Fiscal Autonomy, setting the term of office for barangay officials and members of the Sangguniang Kabataan, and amendments to the Right-of-Way Act.

Other key bills include amendments to the Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act, the E-Governance Act, the Open Access in Data Transmission (Konektadong Pinoy Act), the Rationalization of the Fiscal Mining Regime, amendments to the Universal Health Care Act, the Virology Institute of the Philippines bill, and the Government Optimization Act.

Escudero added that, in addition to approving bills, the Senate must act on over 200 presidential appointments. These include three Cabinet secretaries, four officials of constitutional commissions, 39 foreign service officers, and 277 officers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Originally set for 2 June 2025, the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment is a necessary first step to initiate impeachment proceedings in the Senate.

Once presented in plenary, the Senate can constitute itself as an impeachment court and conduct the trial of the Vice President

On 5 February, the House of Representatives impeached Duterte with 215 lawmakers, more than two-thirds of the chamber, supporting the motion.

Her conviction, which would remove her from office and prevent her from holding future public positions, is now pending in the Senate.

For conviction, the Senate sitting as an impeachment court must achieve a two-thirds vote, meaning at least 16 out of its 24 members.