Senate President Francis Escudero during the Kapihan sa Senado forum on October 29, 2024. 黑料社 file photo / NOY MORCOSO
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Senate President Chiz Escudero refused to comment on circulating rumors that the House of Representatives is slated to transmit to the upper chamber the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte before Congress adjourns its session.
鈥淎yoko mag komentaryo sa haka-haka. Hihintayin ko dumating sa amin [at] kung darating sa amin,聽 magkokomentaryo ako pag nasa amin na. Pero habang wala pa, hindi para sa amin na komentaryuhan pa yan,鈥� Escudero told reporters in an ambush interview.
(I don鈥檛 want to comment on rumors. I鈥檒l just wait for it to arrive here, and if it arrives, I鈥檒l comment. But as long as it鈥檚 not here, it鈥檚 not for us to comment on that matter.)
The Senate chief was likewise pressed to disclose whether or not this can happen before the Congress adjourns its session on Wednesday.
Escudero, however, did not budge.
鈥淗indi para sakin na manghula tungkol dyan. Nasa sa kanila yan 鈥� yan ang kapangyarihan nila. Papasok lamang ang kapangyarihan naman namin kapag ka yan ay naisampa na samin,鈥� he said.
(It鈥檚 not for us to guess. It鈥檚 up to them, it鈥檚 their power. We will only act on our role once it鈥檚 transmitted to us.)
Asked if there is prior communication between the House of Representatives and the Senate regarding the matter, Escudero simply said none.
At present, there are no ongoing preparations in the Senate for the possible impeachment trials against Duterte.
This was previously confirmed by Escudero, saying he does not intend to instruct his fellow senators to prepare for such an eventuality early, such as now.
鈥淜apag naihain na sa amin dahil kapag naihain na sa amin, may proseso pa rin naman kaming kailangang dadaanan 鈥� mga dalawa hanggang tatlong linggo yung prosesong yun so may sapat na panahon,鈥� said Escudero then.
(Once 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.)
Three separate impeachment raps have so far been filed against the Vice President in the lower chamber.