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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Ex-Duterte appointee Ridon says Senate impeachment trial must happen

Ex-Duterte appointee Ridon says Senate impeachment trial must happen

Published Jul 14, 2025 03:50 pm

At A Glance

  • Ex-president Rodrigo Duterte appointee, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon declared in no uncertain terms Monday, July 14 his preference for a full-blown impeachment trial against the former's daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.
From left to right: former president Rodrigo Duterte, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, Vice President Sara Duterte (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)
From left to right: former president Rodrigo Duterte, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon, Vice President Sara Duterte (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN)


Ex-president Rodrigo Duterte appointee, Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon declared in no uncertain terms Monday, July 14 his preference for a full-blown impeachment trial against the former's daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte.
Its the constitutional thing for the Senate to do anyway, Ridon told House reporters in a press conference Monday, July 14.
"Very important to moving forward, ilang linggo na lang po papuntang State of the Nation Address (SONA) kung saan magkakaroon po ang botohan ng Senate President, magkakaroon po ng botohan ng House Speaker. Hindi po pwedeng mawala sa pagbabantay ng ating pong kababayan, yung usapin pa rin po ng delay dito po sa Senate impeachment trial," said the lawyer-legislator.
(Moving forward, it’s very important that just a few weeks remain before the SONA where voting will take place for the Senate President and the House Speaker. Our citizens must not look away from the ongoing issue of delays in the Senate impeachment trial.)
"So, I'm quite certain yung pong Kongreso [House] handa po ito to proceed with a full-blown trial (So, I’m quite certain that the House is prepared to proceed with a full-blown trial)," Ridon added.
From August 2016 to December 2017, Ridon served as chairperson and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) under the administration of then-president Duterte.
Before this, Ridon served as congressman of Kabataan Party-list, which is part of the militant Makabayan bloc.
The House of Representatives submitted the impeachment complaint against the younger Duterte to the Senate last Feb. 5--over five months ago. The Senate impeachment trial has yet to formally begin.
'There should still be clarity'
Although the Bicol Saro solon wasn't part of prosecution panel, he displayed a gameness about speaking for the House on the subject of Vice President Duterte's impeachment case.
"As congressmen, we are not barred from speaking on the matter like what we are doing today. Because it is very important outside of the impeachment prosecution panel.
Meron din ho talagang nakakapaglinaw doon sa mga usapin. Because we don't want the public to be lost in the technicalities dito sa usapin po na ito. Kailangan hong maging malinaw pa rin po," he explained.
(There should be someone giving clarity on these issues. Because we don't want the public to be lost in the technicalities in this particular issue. There should still be clarity.)
Ridon clarified that no one from the House leadership had offered him a slot in the prosecution team.
"Wala naman [feelers]. I think we have to just keep working together on the matter. So ano yung pwede natin iambag na dito po sa impeachment po na ito. Because again, this is a question of public accountability," explained the returning solon.
(There haven’t been any feelers. I think we have to just keep working together on the matter. So, let’s look at what contributions we can make to this impeachment process. Because again, this is a question of public accountability.)
"Whether there's an offer or not, I think is irrelevant. What is important is the House should be reunited on continuing to pursue the impeachment trial of our Vice President, Sara Duterte," he said.
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