Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Wednesday, March 19 shrugged off the stand of a lawmaker who insist that the Senate can immediately proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte even if Congress is still on a break.

Escudero is referring to La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V’s view that the Senate can tackle Duterte’s impeachment trial since it can hold committee hearings during recess.

“I think Cong. Ortega should ‘study pa more’ regarding the difference between motu propio hearings that can be done when Congress is not in session and impeachment proceedings that cannot be commenced during recess,” Escudero said.

“Unless of course he wants to sabotage their own impeachment case by adding yet another ground for the opposing party to question the proceedings by persisting on his (at best) shaky legal theory that impeachment can be commenced when the Senate is not in session,” he warned.

Escudero also pointed out the House leadership itself had raised no problems with the Senate over its proposed timetable for the impeachment trial.

“Again, may I advise him and his other co-prosecutors to instead make the most out of this period and study/build their case because when we start, we will not allow any delays whatsoever,” he said.

“Perhaps, he may also want to get clearer signals from the (House) Speaker who is quite satisfied and has never questioned the Senate’s actions, preparations and preparedness,” he said.

In a statement, Ortega said that if the Senate can convene during recess to discuss other matters, “then it should be ready to deliberate on the impeachment case against the vice president.”

The House lawmaker also said that while the Senate has the prerogative over its schedule, its members should show the same urgency in handling the impeachment case as they do with other pressing issues.