Escudero rejects special session for VP Duterte impeachment trial

Senate President Francis Escudero has decided against calling for a special Senate session to expedite the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, citing the Philippine Constitution that special sessions should only be convened for urgent legislative matters.

He asserted that the Senate's decisions are based on laws and not on the clamor of any group, and that convening as an impeachment court during a non-session period is considered illegal.

However, former Senate President Franklin Drilon stated that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. can convene a special session without explicitly stating its purpose is to fast-track Duterte's impeachment trial.

Drilon explained that when the President calls a special session, Congress is constitutionally obliged to address the impeachment articles first, and the Senate cannot defy the directive.

This is because the President holds the legal authority to convene a special session at any time, as enshrined in the Constitution, although Marcos has previously stated he would only do so upon the Senate's request.