Senate secretary says senators now start getting measurements for their impeachment robes

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has given the go-signal for senators to start getting measurements for the impeachment robe they would be using for the upcoming impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. confirmed this on Friday, March 14.

“About two weeks ago, SP (Senate President) gave (a) go signal na to coordinate with the senators para sa (for the) robe measurements,” Bantug told reporters in a text message.

Bantug, however, said he has no information yet as to who has already started fitting.

Nevertheless, the color of the robes and the design would be the same with the ones used by the senator-judges in the impeachment trial for former Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“Same color and design…maroon. Same nung (Corona) impeachment trial,” he said.

Escudero has tentatively set the start of the impeachment trial on July 30.

The Senate will start to convene as an impeachment court when Congress’ session resumes on June 2. Senators will sit as senator-judges.

The House of Representatives impeached Duterte last February 5, with over 200 lawmakers signing the complaint.

The Articles of Impeachment were then transmitted to the Senate that same day, but the upper chamber adjourned sessions without taking up the case.

In an interview, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed the robe fitting arrangements.

Cayetano also confirmed he is preparing for the upcoming trial since he has more time to study the case as he is not running for reelection in the upcoming May 2025 elections.

“We’re not busy campaigning so we can do (Senate) hearings…and then we can also start studying for the impeachment,” he said.