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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Romualdez won't dip hands in prosecution panel's preps for VP Duterte impeachment

Romualdez won't dip hands in prosecution panel's preps for VP Duterte impeachment

Published Feb 15, 2025 04:02 am

At A Glance

  • Speaker Martin Romualdez has no intention of involving himself in the House prosecution team's preparations for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

20241125_173428.jpgHouse Speaker Martin Romualdez (left), Vice President Sara Duterte (Facebook, PPAB)

Speaker Martin Romualdez has no intention of involving himself in the House prosecution team's preparations for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

This was shared by Iloilo 3rd district Rep. Lorenz Defensor, one of the 11 House members tapped to handle the prosecution of the lady official based on seven articles of impeachment.

According to Defensor, Romualdez briefly dropped by a recent meeting of the prosecution team, to check on the progress of their preparations.

“Dumaan siya, saglit lang. Tinignan niya lang kung kumusta ang attendance ng mga prosecutors (He dropped by momentarily. He checked on the attendance of the prosecutors),” Defensor said.

He clarified, however, that Speaker Romualdez would not be involved in the trial preparations.

“He just wants to be updated about what’s going on. Pero (But) he will not involve himself in the preparation of the impeachment trial by the prosecutors,” he said.

Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district congressman, is a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association (Philconsa).

Defensor noted that the House prosecution team had been gearing up for the Senate impeachment trial, preparing legal strategies and gathering evidence to ensure a solid case against Duterte.

“Maghanda lang ng mabuti. At ang complainant kasi dito 215 [congressmen], more signed up. Kaya ang preparation is maghanda ng mabuti because baka sakaling magbago ang isip ng Senado,” he explained.

(Let's just prepare our best. The complainants here are 215 congressmen, more signed up. We must prepare our best just in case the Senate changes its mind.)

Asked if there was any official communication from the Senate regarding the trial, Defensor said none had been received yet.

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero earlier said that Duterte's trial could begin after President Marcos delivers his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2025.

The House of Representatives transmitted Vice President Duterte's impeachment complaint--along with seven articles of impeachment--to the Senate last Feb. 5.

Related Tags

Impeachment Martin Romualdez Sara Duterte lorenz defensor
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