Stasis of Impeachment Proceedings Against Vice President Sara Duterte
Opinion Piece by Chiz: Baruganan (Meaning "Speak Up" in Filipino)
Currently, the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is experiencing a standstill. The House of Representatives has relayed the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate, the entity overseeing the trial. Yet, given the approaching dissolution of the 19th Congress on June 13, the trial seems unfeasible during the ongoing session. Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero has expressed his intention to delegate the trial to the next Congress, set to commence on July 29, 2025, following President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on July 28[5].
Constitutional Perspectives
The Philippines Constitution pinpoints the procedure for impeaching key officials, including the Vice President. The process consists of two primary stages:1. Impeachment by the House of Representatives: The House must endorse the Articles of Impeachment, garnering at least one-third of its members' votes in favor.2. Trial by the Senate: The Senate then manages the trial, necessitating a two-thirds majority vote to convict and expel the official from office[4].
Political Factors
Several political elements are in play:- Support for the Proceedings: Certain senators advocate for the trial to commence, while others may prefer to postpone it due to political allegiances or tactical reasoning[1].- Public Demands: There are calls from the public, such as a prayer event scheduled for June 9-11, advocating for the trial to initiate[3].- Political Ambiance: The verdict of the trial could have a profound impact on the political climate, particularly regarding the upcoming 2025 elections and the current administration's stability.
The course of the trial hinges on both constitutional laws and the political currents within the Philippine legislative bodies.
- The stalemate in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, despite the Articles of Impeachment being handed over to the Senate, is influenced by policy-and-legislation factors, such as the approaching dissolution of the 19th Congress and the intention of Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero to delegate the trial to the next Congress.
- The politics surrounding the impeachment trial are evident in the differing views among senators regarding the trial's commencement, the public demands for the trial to initiate, and the potential influence of the trial's verdict on the political climate, particularly the upcoming 2025 elections and the current administration's stability, making general-news headlines.
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