SENATORS SUPPORT MOVE TO RESET READING OF IMPEACHMENT RAPS VS VP SARA

SENATORS on Friday expressed their support to the decision of Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero to postpone the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment  by the House of Representatives prosecution panel against Vice President Sara Duterte before Senate from June 2 to June 11.

The senators cited the Senate’s constitutional duty to focus on legislation before converting itself into an impeachment court.

In a statement, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada said while among the functions and responsibilities of the Senate is to act as an impeachment court, its primary mandate is to legislate – to craft, deliberate, and pass laws that promote the general welfare of the people.

According to Estrada, Escudero’s decision to defer the impeachment proceedings is aligned with the consensus reached during the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC) meeting Thursday, which includes members of the Executive branch, Senate, and House of Representatives.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who was also present at the LEDAC meeting, supported Escudero’s move, saying the need to pass at least 12 priority bills before the sine die adjournment of the 19th Congress on June 14.

“Yes, I was at the LEDAC meeting because I have three pending bills in the Committee on Ways and Means that we want to get approved before the end of the 19th Congress: the Anti-POGO Bill, the Denatured Alcohol Bill, and the bill increasing the tax on vape products,” Gatchalian said.

Finalizing the 12 bills during the six remaining session days would require intense focus from the Senate, including bicameral meetings, consultations, and committee hearings, said Gatchalian.

“Having said that, I do agree to devote the next two weeks to finish the remaining bills and other legislative priorities before converting itself into an impeachment court,” he added.

Last Thursday, Escudero announced that  the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte has been moved from June 2 to June 11, 2025 to allow the Senate to tackle priority legislative measures before the 19th Congress adjourns.

Congress adjourns sine die on June 14, 2025.

In a letter sent to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez,a copy of which was also transmitted to the office of Vice President Duterte, the Senate President said there are at least 12 important measures that Congress has committed to pass in the remainder of the 19th Congress.

The Senate leader said among the priority bills that need to be tackled are the 1. Amendments to the Foreign Investors’ Long-Term Lease Act; 2. E-Governance Act; 3. Open Access in Data Transmission (Konektadong Pinoy Act); 4. Rationalization of the Fiscal Mining Regime; 5. Amendments to the Universal Health Care Act; 6. Virology Institute of the Philippines; 7. Government Optimization Act; 8. Amendments to the Right-of-Way Act; 9. Setting the Term of Office of Barangay Officials and Members of the Sangguniang Kabataan 10. Judicial Fiscal Autonomy; 11. Denatured Alcohol Tax; and 12. Anti-POGO Act

“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,” Escudero said.

Apart from the approval of bills, the Senate President also cited the need to act on over 200 presidential appointments, including the 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 June 2, 2025, the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment is a necessary first step to initiate the impeachment proceedings in the Senate. Once presented in plenary, the Senate can already constitute itself as an impeachment court and conduct the trial of the Vice President.