President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. believes the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will carry over into the 20th Congress, as there is not enough time to complete the process before the current session ends.

“It is very clear that it will [carry over]. Because there is no way that even if they start the trial now, they will finish it before the new senators come in. So, well, again, the senators will decide,” Marcos said.

Marcos, a former senator who also served as a senator judge during the impeachment of Chief Justice Renator Corona, pointed out that it is up to the Senate on the next steps in the impeachment trial as it is their function.

“Well, this is really a function of the Senate right now. So, we leave it to them,” he said. “It has moved already from the House. It has now been in the Senate for a few months. We are watching, of course, what the Senate President, Chiz Escudero, is doing to try to make it as peaceful a transition as possible from this Congress to the next.”

Escudero took his oath as presiding officer on Monday. The other senators who will serve as senator-judges are expected to take their oath on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, the Senate will convene as an impeachment court. However, this will also mark the last session day of the 19th Congress.

Duterte was impeached by 215 House members on 5 February.

The Articles of Impeachment were transmitted to the Senate shortly afterward and have remained with the upper chamber for four months before their formal referral.