Senate to vote on VP Sara's impeachment timeline on June 2

Senate President Francis Escudero stated on Friday that his proposed schedule for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is not final.

Escudero emphasized that senators will vote on the timeline when they resume sessions on June 2, and dismissed criticism about the Senate's lack of urgency in handling the case.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III criticized Escudero’s proposed timetable for the impeachment trial, calling a four-month delay until July 30th a violation of the Constitution’s requirement for an immediate trial.

Pimentel acknowledged the need for preliminary steps such as pre-trial and receipt of pleadings but argued that this extended break could compromise the swift resolution required by the constitution.

House of Representatives established an impeachment secretariat to support public prosecutors with technical and administrative assistance throughout the trial process.

Manila 3rd district Representative Joel Chua stressed the importance of accountability in the impeachment trial and warned that delaying proceedings could compromise evidence integrity and witness safety.