House Speaker Martin Romualdez has confirmed on the receipt of Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s letter regarding the forthcoming impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a letter dated May 22, 2025, and addressed to Escudero, Romualdez committed to transmit the Senate’s communication to the members of the House prosecution.
“The House of Representatives confirms receipt of your Honor’s letter dated 19 May 2025, relative to the verified impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte," Romualdez said in the letter.
"This will be transmitted to the panel of House prosecutors," he noted.
The official communication from the Speaker was received by the Office of the Senate President on Thursday afternoon, as indicated by a stamp showing the time of receipt at 12:28 p.m.
Romualdez's letter came in response to a May 19, 2025 communication from Escudero, who informed the House that the Senate was prepared to proceed with the next steps of the impeachment process.
“Pursuant to Rule II of the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials, we would like to inform your good office that, having taken proper order on the impeachment of Vice-President Sara Z. Duterte, the Senate shall be ready to receive the House of Representatives’ panel of prosecutors at 4 o’clock in the afternoon of June 2, 2025,” Escudero stated.
The Senate President also reiterated the expectation that the House prosecution panel will read the seven charges against the Vice President in open session.
The seven charges or allegations were first revealed in public last Feb. 5, when the House of Representatives submitted the impeachment complaint against Duterte to the Senate.
“As stated in our letter dated February 24, 2025, the Senate shall expect the prosecution to read the seven charges under the Articles of Impeachment in open session,” Escudero noted.
Escudero further informed Romualdez that the Senate will formally convene as an impeachment court at 9 a.m. of June 3.
The Senate’s convening will serve “the purpose of issuing the summons and such other relevant orders,” according to the letter.
The letter exchange between the two leaders marked the transition of the impeachment process from the House of Representatives to the Senate, which now assumes jurisdiction as an impeachment court.