Escudero: Senate budget for Sara Duterte impeachment trial set under P1M
Senate President Francis Escudero answers query from members of the media during the Kapihan sa Senado weekly forum in this file photo taken on February 6, 2025 in Pasay City. 黑料社 / NOY MORCOSO
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Chiz Escudero said the upper chamber is poised to spend less than a million for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
At a press conference on Wednesday, the Senate chief said the estimated cost does not include lawyer fees, explaining that the chamber intends to engage with the “services of some practicing lawyers and law firms,” although the matter has yet to be finalized.
“[S]a tingin ko, labas ang lawyer fees, because we plan to engage the services of some practicing lawyers and law firm[s] although hindi pa nasasapinal ‘yon, ‘yon wala pang amount. Wala pa sigurong isang milyon ang gagastusin namin,” said Escudero.
(Excluding lawyer fees, because we plan to engage the services of some practicing lawyers and law firms, although it has yet to be finalized, I think we will spend less than a million.)
Included in this ballpark figure are the following:
Article continues after this advertisement- Robe (which costs approximately P6,000 to P8,000 each with each senator-judge to be given two)
- Identification Cards for visitors
- Honoraria
“Yung lawyer fees, ‘yon ang wala pa. Pero ‘yong basic preparations, ‘yong lamesa, ‘yong gan’on mga one lang kasi ‘yong kuryente gano’n din naman, ‘yong aircon, ‘yong tubig gano’n din pareho lang din naman. Hindi naman magbabago, hindi naman kailangang dagdagan pa ‘yon, because we do hold sessions in the morning sometimes, we do hold committee hearings in the morning so it’s going to be the same,” said Escudero.
Article continues after this advertisement(Lawyer fees are not yet included. But basic preparations including tables, electricity, aircon, water — that’s all the same. It won’t change ,and nothing will be adjusted because we do hold sessions in the morning sometimes,;we do hold committee hearings in the morning, so it’s going to be the same.)
The Senate chief said each senator-judge may have their own additional expenses, but it would be charged to their respective offices.
“Most, if not all, have law firms retained to advise them on legal matters so, kasama na ‘yon sa budget nila hindi na kami maglalabas ng dagdag pera pa doon,” he said.
(Most, if not all, have law firms retained to advise them on legal matters so that’s included in their budget so there’s no need for us to have an additional budget for that.)
The Senate’s top leader disclosed that the impeachment trial against Duterte will commence after President Bongbong Marcos’ fourth State of the Nation Address in July.
