Christian Monsod critiques Escudero's delay in VP Sara Duterte's impeachment

Former elections chief Christian Monsod criticized Senate President Francis Escudero's delay in starting the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Monsod argued that there are already established rules for impeachments and questioned Escudero's reasoning for needing more time, calling it 'shallow reasoning'.

Escudero reiterated Thursday that the Senate cannot begin the impeachment trial during the recess period as the Constitution does not specify what 'forthwith' means.

He also stated that his proposed timeline is based on jurisprudence interpreting 'forthwith' to mean 'within reasonable time, which may be a longer or shorter period, according to the circumstances of each particular case'.

Escudero emphasized that he will make decisions dispassionately and fairly without any bias towards either side in the impeachment trial.

The Senate received the Articles of Impeachment on February 5 but postponed the trial until late July, according to Monsod.