Escudero: Most senators oppose caucus for VP Duterte impeachment trial
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero — Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau
MANILA, Philippines — Most senators are not in favor of a caucus, Senate President Chiz Escudero disclosed on Thursday, adding that no all-member caucus for the discussion of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte will be held during break.
In a press conference on Thursday, Escudero was asked if the Senate leadership is still eyeing to conduct a caucus while Congress’ session is in recess.
READ: Impeachment clerk of court readies for ‘tough grind’ in VP Duterte trial
“Not at this time, no,” Escudero immediately responded. Without giving further details, the Senate chief said he is scheduled to meet with Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel on Friday just to have coffee.
According to Escudero, he consulted some senators and asked whether or not they favored the conduct of such.
Article continues after this advertisement“Tinanong ko ang iba eh. Hindi rin naman nila gusto at busy din eh. How can it be an all senators’ caucus when most are travelling and some are abroad? Some are not available, and some are not interested. And as I’ve said, kahit anong gawin namin, hanggat walang sesyon, wala naman kaming masisimulan, ” he added.
Article continues after this advertisement(I asked some of them. They don’t want to and some of them are busy. How can it be an all senators’ caucus when most are travelling and some are abroad? Some are not available, and some are not interested. And as I’ve said, whatever we do, as long as there’s no session, we can’t really start anything.)
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel earlier appealed to Escudero, asking the latter to call for an all-member caucus and determine, once and for all, the consensus of senators about the timeline of the impeachment proceedings against Duterte.
“Caucus muna. Then pakinggan nila ako, then kung talagang ayaw nila, aminin namin sa taumbayan na ayaw nila. Kasi if this is really a political question and therefore this is a legitimate political issue for the people,” said Pimentel then.
(Just a caucus. They need to listen to me, and if they really don’t want to, let’s admit to the people that they don’t want. Because this really is a political question and therefore this is a legitimate political issue for the people.)
The minority leader believes the Senate is ready and capable of commencing the impeachment process against Duterte as early as March.
But Escudero had already made clear that the impeachment trial against Duterte will only commence after President Bongbong Marcos’ fourth State of the Nation Address in July.
A quick look at the proposed calendar of the impeachment trial would show that the chamber is eyeing to begin the actual judicial proceeding by July 30.
