Duterte's legal team seeks to ensure Senate adherence to regulations
In the whirlwind of events surrounding Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial, her legal team contemplates the best course of action in response to the Senate's summons. On the heels of the Senate Impeachment Court's call, Duterte expressed in a June 12 interview that they're mulling over compliances stratagems [3].
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) acknowledged the receipt of the summons on June 11, delivered crudely by the Senate sergeant-at-arms at the OVP office in Mandaluyong City [3]. The Senate-issued summons necessitates Duterte to file her official response to the articles of impeachment within 10 days, a period that extended negotiations are unlikely to ease [3].
It also dictates that she attend the Senate Session Hall in Pasay City, submitting to any orders, directives, and judgments issued by the Senate in their capacity as an impeachment court [3]. As the Philippine Constitution and relevant laws serve as their mandate, charges of graft, corruption, and an alleged assassination plot against President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. are hanging over her head [4].
The Senate's indirect pursuit of Duterte began when Senator Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa confirmed that they were waiting for action from the House of Representatives following the detection of inconsistencies in the articles of impeachment [4]. Dela Rosa encouraged caution, highlighting constitutional concerns that required further clarity before proceeding with the trial [4].
The Senate took the oath of office in preparation for the trial by June 13 [5]. But a more recent development shows that the trial has been remanded back to the House of Representatives, prompting a motion for clarification from the House prosecution [1][2]. The House is currently in a holding pattern, awaiting clarification from the Senate on their order's legality before proceeding further [2].
Should the House comply with the Senate's clarified order, the impeachment trial would trudge on within the 20th Congress, although an exact schedule remains nebulous due to ongoing legal and procedural issues [2]. Initial suggestions for the trial date alerted a potential commencement by July 30, 2025 [4].
As tensions run high, both sides eagerly await resolution and the Senate's next move, setting the stage for a political drama that will consume the nation for weeks, if not months, to come [1].
The Office of the Vice President (OVP) is deliberating policy-and-legislation strategies in response to the Senate's summons, given that the Senate Impeachment Court's call necessitates action within a tight deadline and the trial's outcome could significantly impact the politics of the country. The upcoming impeachment trial, governed by the Philippine Constitution and relevant laws, is set to delve into charges of graft, corruption, and an alleged assassination plot, making general-news headlines both domestically and internationally.
