Senate President Francis 鈥淐hiz鈥� G. Escudero talks to reporters on Monday, November 4, 2024. (Photo from Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� While a special session may be called during the break of Congress, it may not be used as a venue to convene an impeachment court that will try the case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Senate President Francis 鈥淐hiz鈥� Escudero shared this opinion on Thursday, a day after the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte were transmitted to the Senate for trial.
But Congress went on break on Wednesday without tackling in the Senate plenary the impeachment bid against the vice president.
Congress will resume its sessions on June 2.
Still, Escudero recognized the possibility that a special session of Congress may be called by President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos聽 Jr. even during the break.
鈥淥o, pwedeng mangyari yun. Pero ang pagpapatawag ng special session, sa aking pagkakaalam, ay hindi para mag convene ng impeachment court,鈥� he said at the regular Kapuhan sa Senado.
(Yes, that can happen. But the calling of a special session, as far as I know, is not to convene an impeachment court.)
鈥淪a aking pagkakaalam ay ang pagtatawag ng special session ay para sa mahahalagang bagay at panukalang batas na kailangang ipasa,鈥� the Senate leader explained.
(As far as I know, the calling of a special session is for important things and bills that need to be passed.)
鈥淎yun sa ating Saligang Batas, hindi ito isa o saklaw marahil nung probisyong yun kaugnay ng special session pero haharapin namin yun pag nandyan,鈥� he noted.
(According to our Constitution, this is not one or maybe covered by that provision related to the special session, but we will deal with it when it is there.)
鈥淪yempre, pag nagpatawag ng special session, sang ayon man kami o hindi, e syempre alangan namang hindi kami mag attend,鈥� he further said.
(Of course, when a special session is called, whether we agree or not, of course we will attend.)
In the same forum, Escudero pointed out that an impeachment court can only be convened when there is a plenary session.
But since it did not happen before the Senate ended its session on Wednesday, he said an impeachment trial cannot be done 鈥渓egally鈥� during the break.
(NOTE: The English translations in the article were AI-generated.)