黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Senate President Francis Escudero on Thursday said there are currently no ongoing preparations in the Senate for the possible impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

At the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Escudero said he has no intention of instructing his fellow senators to prepare for such eventuality early, such as now.

鈥淥nce it is filed here, we still have a process to go through, so we have approximately two to three weeks to do that process, so we have enough time,鈥� he explained in Filipino.

The Senate chief was then asked if this meant that there were no present movements nor meetings in the upper chamber regarding the possible impeachment.

鈥淭here鈥檚 none and we don鈥檛 intend to do that as part of our preparations because some might say that we鈥檙e too presumptuous, or we鈥檙e going way too ahead, or that we know something others don鈥檛,鈥� he said in Filipino.

Escudero also said he does not know if both chambers of Congress have enough time to push for Duterte鈥檚 impeachment, as every trial varies.

鈥淚 cannot say for certain if we have enough time, but any job being thrown at us here in the Senate, we will comply with because it鈥檚 our mandate and we will hear every case being filed here,鈥� he added.

Now that the Senate and the House of Representatives are set to go on break and adjourn their sessions beginning December 20, can impeachment proceedings still push through?

Escudero said 鈥測es.鈥�

鈥淎n impeachment proceeding is a unique process that is not covered by the ordinary Senate sessions where our counterpart in the House of Representatives needs to have sessions too,鈥� he explained in Filipino.

Escudero previously told senators not to make any public comments about the impeachment complaint against Duterte, as the upper chamber of Congress stands ready to fulfill its mandate with integrity and impartiality should the case push through.

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