Senate President Francis Escudero has taken his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court, initiating the trial process for Vice President Sara Duterte.
This follows heated plenary debates and mounting pressure from civic groups demanding that the Senate fulfill its constitutional duty to begin the trial.
Minority senators pushed for an immediate start, while Duterte allies sought to terminate proceedings, citing time constraints ahead of Congress’s adjournment on June 30.
Escudero rejected a proposed 19-day expedited trial, saying fairness must prevail over speed, while former Justice Antonio Carpio asserted that impeachment trials can legally extend into the next Congress.
Meanwhile, Duterte’s camp reiterated its readiness to face the charges and warned against using impeachment as a political weapon.
Source: PhilNews24 | June 10, 2025
