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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Escudero takes oath as presiding officer, but impeachment court still to convene on June 11

Escudero takes oath as presiding officer, but impeachment court still to convene on June 11

Published Jun 9, 2025 09:27 pm  |  Updated Jun 10, 2025 01:31 am

At A Glance

  • The Senate agreed to have Senate President Chiz Escudero take his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court on June 9, with senators set to take their oath as senator-judges on June 10, but the court will formally convene on June 11, following debates sparked by Senator Koko Pimentel's push for immediate proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
After lengthy deliberations, the Senate plenary agreed on Monday night, June 9, on the motion of Senator Joel Villanueva for Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero to take his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court that will tackle Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment complaint.
According to Villanueva, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III agreed to have his previous motion be amended. It was Pimentel who made the motion just after 4 p.m., urging the Upper Chamber to activate its constitutional duty and initiate the impeachment trial “at this very moment.”
When the session resumed past 8 p.m. after further deliberations in the afternoon, Villanueva moved that the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte be referred to the Senate Committee on Rules. This was approved.
Before Villanueva could make his second motion for senators to take their oath as senator judges on Tuesday, June 10, Senator Ronald "Bato Dela Rosa asked for clarification, concerning the convening of the impeachment court once the senators take their oath. Villanueva said that this would not be triggered even if they take their respective oaths.
However, Pimentel said that the impeachment court would automatically be convened once they take their oath as senator-judges. Yet Dela Rosa stated that he would object to the motion if it meant the convening of the impeachment court. This prompted another discussion among senators.
Upon the resumption of session before 9 p.m., Villanueva made the motion for Escudero to take his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court. This was approved.
Escudero took his oath before Senate Secretary Atty. Renato N. Bantug Jr.
After this, Villanueva made a motion that the senators-judges take their oath at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10. He reiterated, however, that the impeachment court would be constituted but not yet convened.
This sudden change in the schedule of the impeachment proceedings was triggered by the motion made by Pimentel earlier in the afternoon.
He also made several other motions that were no longer tackled:
  • The impeachment court formally calls the impeachment case against Vice President Duterte;
  • That at 2:00 p.m on Tuesday, June 10, the impeachment court will convene again for the presentation and reading of the Articles of Impeachment by the House panel of prosecutors;
  • And that a writ of summons be issued to Vice President Duterte following the reading of the charges.
In a privilege speech, Pimentel said that any further delay not only undermines the explicit mandate of the Constitution and our rules, it risks eroding public trust in the Senate's capacity and capability to uphold the accountability of public officers and the rule of law.
"Not only do many believe that the Senate is heading to a no-trial scenario, worse, many have opined that simply by inaction or by merely refusing to convene as the impeachment court, the Senate seems to believe that it can effectively dismiss or defeat an impeachment complaint duly filed and transmitted by the House of Representatives," he said.
"Under Rule 10 of the Senate's Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials, at the hour of the day appointed for the trial of an impeachment, the legislative business of the Senate, if there be any, shall be suspended so that the business of the trial can proceed," he added.

Related Tags

impeachment complaint Chiz Escudero Vice President Sara Duterte koko pimentel
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