Chiz takes oath as Sara trial presiding officer

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero last night took his oath as presiding officer in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, with the other senators agreeing to take their own oaths today, 10 June, to constitute the chamber but not to convene it.

The development came after hours of circuitous debates and a drawn-out caucus that did not resolve anything. Based on earlier pronouncements by Escudero, the impeachment court will be convened on Wednesday, 11 June.

Earlier in the day, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III formally moved to convene the Senate as an impeachment court.

In his motion, Pimentel also proposed suspending the Senate’s legislative calendar, administering the oath of office to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero as presiding officer of the impeachment court, and administering the prescribed oath to all senators as judges.

Escudero earlier postponed the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment from 2 June to 11 June to “give way” to the passage of priority measures of the Marcos administration.

The presentation of the Articles of Impeachment marks the official start of impeachment proceedings in the Senate, at which point it formally constitutes itself as an impeachment court.

Pimentel further moved for the impeachment court to call the case against Vice President Duterte and adopt a trial calendar.

“That tomorrow, 10 June 2025, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, the Impeachment Court call the impeachment case for the presentation and reading of the Articles of Impeachment by the panel of prosecutors of the House of Representatives,” he said.

“That thereafter, the writ of summons be issued to the impeached officer,” he added.

Senator Risa Hontiveros seconded the motion, emphasizing that the chamber must act “forthwith with no further delay” in convening as an impeachment court.

“It’s not hard to understand the order for anyone sincere in following it. The trial must begin immediately, with no avoidance or further postponements,” Hontiveros said.

“In fact, Retired Justice Adolfo Azcuna, who wrote the procedural section that included the word ‘forthwith,’ said that it meant — and I quote — ‘immediately and without unreasonable delay,’ or in Filipino, ‘agad-agad,’” she added.

However, Senator Joel Villanueva raised concerns about the minority’s motion, citing Senate Rules on Impeachment that require formal notices to be served to both the House prosecution panel and Vice President Duterte’s camp before proceedings can begin.

As of press time, senators were still debating procedural questions, including whether the impeachment case should first be referred to the Committee on Rules before any trial calendar could be adopted.

Move to dismiss

Meanwhile, Senator Robin Padilla filed a resolution seeking to dismiss the impeachment case against Duterte.

In Senate Resolution 1371, Padilla pointed out that the 19th Congress is set to adjourn sine die on Friday, 13 June, meaning that “all pending matters and proceedings shall terminate upon the expiration of one Congress.”

“The Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte is one such pending matter, and the consideration thereof is one such pending proceeding,” he said.

“From all the foregoing, it is indubitably clear that the matter of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte and its consideration by the present Senate cannot be fully accomplished by the expiration of the 19th Congress on 30 June 2025, thereby resulting in its termination,” he added.

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on 5 February, with 215 lawmakers — more than two-thirds of the chamber — voting in favor.

For Duterte to be convicted and removed from office, at least 16 of the 24 senators — representing two-thirds of the chamber — must vote in favor.

If convicted, Duterte would be removed from office and barred from holding any future public position.