Speaker: No pressure on Senate to fast-track VP Sara Duterte impeachment
SENATE TRIAL NEXT Speaker Martin Romualdez bangs the gavel during Wednesday’s closing session of the Philippine Congress when a fourth impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte gained support from at least 215 representatives. The number was more than one-third of the House required to bring it immediately to the Senate for trial. The historic session also announced who will compose the House prosecution panel (left insets). —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
TACLOBAN CITY – House Speaker Martin Romualdez has stressed that the House of Representatives is not pressuring the Senate to fast-track or immediately conduct hearings on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
In an interview on Friday, Feb. 7, Romualdez said it is up to the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, to determine when they will proceed with the trial.
“It’s up to them. We leave it to their sound discretion,” said Romualdez, who also serves as the congressman of Leyte’s first district.
Romualdez was in Tacloban to lead the groundbreaking ceremony for the Benjamin Romualdez International Convention Center, a P750-million project.
READ: House: Lawmakers backing Sara Duterte impeachment now at 240
Article continues after this advertisementThe House of Representatives, under Romualdez’s leadership, approved the impeachment complaint against Duterte on multiple grounds, including an alleged threat she made against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Romualdez himself.
Article continues after this advertisementHowever, in an interview on the same day, Duterte denied ever making threats against the President.
Senate President Francis Escudero, in separate media interviews, said that they could start the impeachment trial after the May 12, 2025 elections or on June 3.
