Lawmakers on both sides of Congress expressed differing views Monday over the Senate’s decision to postpone the start of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte — a move that continues to draw scrutiny from House prosecutors.

In a Monday morning interview, Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel questioned the deferment of the impeachment process, originally scheduled to begin on 2 June.

"Nakahintay na tayo ng 4 na buwan. Dumating ang 2 June tapos dinefer... Na-delay na nga ng 4 na buwan tapos ide-delay pa ng 8 araw. Bakit? What is the purpose?" Pimentel asked.

(We’ve already waited four months. Then 2 June came and it was deferred — delayed again by eight days.)

Citing the Constitution, Pimentel emphasized that once the House transmits the articles of impeachment, the Senate has an obligation to convene and proceed with the trial immediately.

"Ang nakasulat dun [sa Saligang Batas], kapag naka-file na ang HoR ng articles of impeachment sa Senado, ang duty, ang obligasyon ng Senado, mag-trial... 'Trial shall forthwith proceed'," he said.

(What’s written there is that once the House of Representatives has filed the articles of impeachment with the Senate, it becomes the Senate’s duty and obligation to conduct the trial... “Trial shall forthwith proceed.”)

The senator warned that further postponements could undermine constitutional requirements, noting that the impeachment process must begin in the 19th Congress.

"Nasa 19th pa kami, bakit pinoproblema namin ang 20th Congress? Bakit namin ide-defer, ika-cancel, ipo-postpone dahil lang sa hinuhulaan namin ang posisyon ng mga senador sa 20th Congress," he said.

(We’re still in the 19th Congress, so why are we already worrying about the 20th Congress? Why would we defer, cancel, or postpone just because we’re guessing what the senators in the 20th Congress might do?)

JV unbothered

Meanwhile, Senator JV Ejercito defended Senate President Chiz Escudero’s decision to postpone the formal reading of the impeachment articles to 11 June.

"Nagtanong naman si SP Escudero sa amin... Desisyon niya ito... Hindi naman namin siguro dapat madaliin," Ejercito said in a separate radio interview. He added that priority legislation also needs to be passed before Congress adjourns.

(SP Escudero consulted us… It was his decision. I don’t think we should rush it.)

Ejercito noted that the Senate impeachment court will only officially convene during the 20th Congress in July, suggesting that the delay would not impact the overall timeline of the proceedings.

"Ang talagang start ng impeachment proper, 'yung pag-convene as an impeachment court ay sa July na," he added.

(The proper start of the impeachment trial, the convening as an impeachment court, will be in July.)

Their comments follow sharp criticism from Iloilo Representative Lorenz Defensor, a member of the House prosecution panel, who on Sunday called the delay “a disservice to the Filipino people.”

“The sooner we start and finish the impeachment trial, the better for our country and for the vice president,” Defensor said, insisting that the trial must begin as soon as the articles are transmitted, regardless of the Senate’s calendar.