President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte —MARIANNE BERMUDEZ and GRIG MONTEGRANDE/INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday said he would call for a special Senate session on the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte if the upper chamber of Congress requests it.
In a Palace briefing, Marcos was asked whether he would call for a special Senate session on the matter.
“If the senators ask for this, yes,” Marcos said. “Again, they will decide. We did not decide this.”
“If the Senate president calls me up and says, I spoke to the senators about whether we can have a special session. Sure, I will. But if they request like that, it means they are doing something else; they’re not yet ready,” he added.
On Thursday, former Senate President Franklin Drilon said Marcos could call Congress to a special session to allow the Senate to convene as an impeachment court.
READ: Drilon: Marcos can call special session for Senate’s impeachment role
READ: VP Sara Duterte impeachment complaint reaches Senate
On the same day, Senate President Francis Escudero said no impeachment trial against Duterte would be done legally during the Congress’ break.
READ: Marcos hands off on impeachment raps vs VP Duterte – Bersamin
“Legally, it cannot be done. Again, as I’ve said, because the impeachment court was not convened,” Escudero said at the Kapihan sa Senado forum when asked if it is possible for the impeachment trial to be done while sessions of both chambers of Congress’ are adjourned.
“The impeachment complaint was not referred to the plenary for there to be a basis for the impeachment court to be convened by the Senate sitting as a legislative body. Hindi muna as an impeachment court (not yet as an impeachment court),” he pointed out.