Senate resets VP impeach complaint reading to June 11

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May 30, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis Escudero has moved the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte from June 2 to June 11, just days before Congress is set to adjourn.

In a statement yesterday, Escudero said this will allow the Senate to focus on the passage of priority pieces of legislation before it adjourns sine die on June 13.

“Accordingly, from the original schedule of June 2, the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment by the House of Representatives’ prosecution panel is now set to 4 p.m. of June 11,” Escudero said in his letter explaining his decision to Speaker Martin Romualdez, a copy of which was also transmitted to the Office of the Vice President.

The House of Representatives has received the letter of Escudero, House spokesperson Princess Abante said yesterday, noting that the letter was forwarded to the prosecution panel for appropriate action.

Escudero said there are at least 12 legislative measures that Congress vowed to pass before the end of the 19th Congress.

The prosecution was initially tasked to read the impeachment complaint when session resumes on June 2, with the Senate impeachment court convening a day after

With the prosecution’s reading of the charges reset to June 11, it remains to be seen if the Senate impeachment court can be convened the day after, or on June 12, which is the Independence Day holiday.

With the midterm elections over and her impeachment trial on the horizon, most Filipinos now want Vice President Duterte to collaborate with the government to “prioritize the nation’s needs” and address all allegations against her to clear her name, a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed.

Meanwhile, Senate minority leader Koko Pimentel yesterday disputed the position of senator-elect Vicente Sotto III that the impeachment trial of Duterte may not cross over to the 20th Congress.

Pimentel likened the Senate impeachment court to a regular court, where cases are filed and continue to be heard despite changing members of the bench.

In another development, La Union Rep. Paolo Ortega V exposed a string of bogus and suspicious names allegedly listed as beneficiaries of the OVP’s confidential funds – including surnames eerily similar to sitting senators, a congressman and even a famous bakeshop brand. — Bella Cariaso, Janvic Mateo, Jose Rodel Clapano