Senate President Escudero says no special session for Duterte impeachment trial

Senate President Francis Escudero confirmed the Senate has no plans to call for a special session for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, stating it is illegal to do so.

The Senate will proceed with the trial during the regular session, which begins in July or after the President's State of the Nation Address on July 28.

The trial will follow the same process as other impeachable officers, with no special treatment, as per Escudero's statement.

Escudero cited the impeachment trials of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and former Chief Justice Renato Corona as precedents, noting that trials occurred after the impeachment was filed.

More than 200 congressmen filed and signed an impeachment complaint against Duterte, exceeding the one-third vote required by the Constitution for her to be impeached.

The House of Representatives sent the bill of the impeachment complaint to the Senate on the last day of the congressional session, with 25 additional congressmen later endorsing the complaint.

The ouster charges against Duterte include seven articles of impeachment, such as plotting the assassination of the President, misusing secret funds, amassing unexplained wealth, and committing acts of destabilization.

Vice President Duterte encouraged her supporters to focus on their families and voice concerns on social media rather than joining street protests.