黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Several incumbent senators are of the belief that they can start the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte during the 19th Congress, former Senate president Vicente Sotto III said on Thursday.

Sotto said this during the press briefing for Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas senatorial candidates in Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, when asked about Senate President Francis Escudero鈥檚 statements that the trial would likely begin during the 20th Congress.

Sotto asked the reporter if that was the opinion of the entire Senate or just Escudero, as some sitting senators told him otherwise.

鈥淥f course, it鈥檚 a constitutional mandate and therefore it is serious.听 For us to consider it, in the 20th Congress, if we make it there, definitely we need to be prepared, as we have prepared in the past.听 But are you sure that it will be the 20th Congress, because they can take it up now if they want,鈥� Sotto said.

鈥淚s that what the senators said or just the Senate President?鈥� Sotto asked, when the reporter replied that Escudero prefers having the trial by the 20th Congress.听 鈥淜asi nakakausap ko 鈥榶ong ibang mga senador, hindi gano鈥檔 ang sinasabi eh [鈥�] Pwede raw eh, pwede raw i-take up (now).鈥�

(Because I talked to other senators, that is not what they told me.听 They believe they can take it up now.)

Sotto reiterated his belief that the Senate should have referred the articles of impeachment to the plenary when they received it last February 5, instead of adjourning the session without tackling it.听 This way, the Senate committees could have discussed the issue even while the session is on a break.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a pity because I think if they referred it to the body during the time that they received the transmittal, they could have conducted hearings by the committee on rules during the break, and they could have convened if they wanted to by June 2, or even before if they convened themselves as an impeachment court,鈥� he said.

The former Senate head also believes it would not hinder the campaign plans of some senators seeking reelection, as having the impeachment televised nationwide is better campaign material.

Sotto said this is his opinion, but it is shared by some senators 鈥� whom he believes should be interviewed also.

鈥淥f course this is my opinion, definitely different from the opinion of others.听 So 鈥榶on kasing narinig ko na sabi no鈥檔g iba 鈥榢asi the seven senators are reelectionists and they will be campaigning鈥�.听 What better campaign it to be in television everyday, in the impeachment court?听 Walang tatalo do鈥檔, parang telenovela 鈥榶on, panonoorin ng buong Pilipinas 鈥榶on eh,鈥� Sotto said.

(Of course this is my opinion, definitely different from the opinion of others.听 So what I heard is that 鈥榯here are seven who are reelectionists and they will be campaigning鈥�.听 What better campaign is it to be on television everyday, in the impeachment court?听 Nothing beats that, it鈥檚 like a telenovela 鈥榶on that would be watched by the entire Philippines.)

鈥淪o 鈥榶ong thinking na 鈥榓no raw eh, kasi daw Mindanao will be (watching)鈥�.听 Bakit, no ba boto nila?听 O yes ba boto nila?听 Boboto sila after election na eh, so ano鈥檔g problema sa Mindanao, 鈥榙i ba?听 But they are exercising their constitutional mandate.听 As I said that鈥檚 my opinion, but that is the opinion of other senators also.听 So I think they should be interviewed also,鈥� he added.

(So the thinking that Mindanao will be watching, why, what is their vote?听 Would they vote yes or no?听 They will vote after the elections, so what鈥檚 the problem with Mindanao, right?)

Escudero, from the time that the House of Representatives transmitted the articles of impeachment, has been adamant that Duterte鈥檚 fate will be decided by the 20th Congress.听 According to the incumbent Senate President, the earliest that the trial could be held is by June, when the 19th Congress resumes its session, or after the 2025 midterm elections.

READ: No Senate trial of VP Duterte before June 鈥� Escudero听

Duterte was impeached by the House last February 5, 2025 after 215 lawmakers filed and verified a fourth impeachment complaint.听 The articles of impeachment were immediately transmitted to the Senate, as under the 1987 Constitution, a trial should start forthwith if at least one-thirds of all House members 鈥� in this case, 102 out of 306 鈥斕�听have signed and endorsed the petition.

READ: House impeaches VP Sara Duterte, fast-tracking transmittal to Senate听

However, the articles of impeachment were not sent to the Senate plenary before session ended on February 5 鈥� which meant that Congress would have to reconvene first after the election season or through a special session to discuss the impeachment.

There were also questions whether it is proper for the Senate in the 19th Congress to start the trial when the 2025 midterms elections would surely change the composition in the legislative chamber.听听For the House, it is also being quizzed if it is correct to appoint prosecutors as the lawmakers would have to get reelected first if trial crosses to the 20th Congress.

On Wednesday though, former senator Panfilo 鈥淧ing鈥� Lacson believes there is no issue if the impeachment trial starts within the 19th Congress and crosses over to the 20th Congress, based on the same principle used by the judiciary in hearing cases.

Lacson, during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, explained that cases raffled to a particular division 鈥� like for the Sandiganbayan and the Court of Appeals 鈥� would not be transferred to another division should one of the judges retire or resign from his or her post.