Senate rejects VP Duterte summons during recess

Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero rejected a motion by House prosecutors to issue summons for Vice President Sara Duterte during an upcoming impeachment trial, citing legal restrictions due to Congress being in recess.

Escudero emphasized that the Senate cannot legally summon the vice president while Congress is on break and the Senate has not convened as an impeachment court, adhering strictly to legal procedures.

The House impeached Duterte on February 5 for alleged misuse of secret funds, unexplained wealth, destabilization acts, and plotting assassinations against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his family.

Escudero proposed July 30 as a potential start date for proceedings, with June 2 set for presenting articles of impeachment and convening the Impeachment Court on June 3, urging prosecutors to use this period to further study their evidence.

Vice President Duterte has been working remotely from The Hague since her father's arrest by the International Criminal Court on March 13.

Congress is on a four-month break for midterm elections and will reconvene for a two-week session on June 2, setting a timeline for impeachment proceedings to commence.

Escudero defended his decision in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, saying that issuing summons would be illegal and questioning the House's motives behind their push for fast-tracking the process.