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 鈥� 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 鈥渟ervices of some practicing lawyers and law firms,鈥� although the matter has yet to be finalized.
鈥淸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 鈥榶on, 鈥榶on wala pang amount. Wala pa sigurong isang milyon ang gagastusin namin,鈥� 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:
- Robe (which costs approximately P6,000 to P8,000 each with each senator-judge to be given two)
- Identification Cards for visitors
- Honoraria
鈥淵ung lawyer fees, 鈥榶on ang wala pa. Pero 鈥榶ong basic preparations, 鈥榶ong lamesa, 鈥榶ong gan鈥檕n mga one lang kasi 鈥榶ong kuryente gano鈥檔 din naman, 鈥榶ong aircon, 鈥榶ong tubig gano鈥檔 din pareho lang din naman. Hindi naman magbabago, hindi naman kailangang dagdagan pa 鈥榶on, because we do hold sessions in the morning sometimes, we do hold committee hearings in the morning so it鈥檚 going to be the same,鈥� said Escudero.
(Lawyer fees are not yet included. But basic preparations including tables, electricity, aircon, water 鈥� that鈥檚 all the same. It won鈥檛 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鈥檚 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.
鈥淢ost, if not all, have law firms retained to advise them on legal matters so, kasama na 鈥榶on sa budget nila hindi na kami maglalabas ng dagdag pera pa doon,鈥� he said.
(Most, if not all, have law firms retained to advise them on legal matters so that鈥檚 included in their budget so there鈥檚 no need for us to have an additional budget for that.)
The Senate鈥檚 top leader disclosed that the impeachment trial against Duterte will commence after President Bongbong Marcos鈥� fourth State of the Nation Address in July.