House gets notice of new date for reading of impeachment articles

The House of Representatives has confirmed receipt of a new Senate letter changing the schedule for the presentation of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.–VP Sara Duterte impeachment composite image from Inquirer files

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives has confirmed receipt of a new Senate letter informing them of the change in the schedule for the presentation of the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte.

In a statement on Thursday, lawyer and House spokesperson Princess Abante said that Senate President Francis Escudero’s letter to Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez indicated that the impeachment prosecutors will now present the articles by June 11, instead of the original June 2 schedule.

“Natanggap na ng Kamara de Representantes ang opisyal na liham ni Senate President Francis Escudero na ipinadala kay Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, hinggil sa paglipat ng iskedyul ng presentasyon ng House prosecution panel kaugnay ng Articles of Impeachment laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte, mula Hunyo 2 sa bagong itinakdang petsa na Hunyo 11,” Abante said.

(The House of Representatives has received the official letter of Senate President Francis Escudero sent to Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, about the change in the schedule of the House prosecution panel’s presentation of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte, from June 2 to the new schedule of June 11.)

“Ipinasa na ito sa House prosecution panel para sa kanilang nararapat na pag-aksyon,” she added.

(It was forwarded to the House prosecution panel for their appropriate action.)

According to the letter, the Senate is deferring the presentation of the articles so that the chamber can focus on approving priority legislation before the 19th Congress adjourns.

Escudero had invited the House prosecution to present the articles of impeachment before the Senate plenary on Monday, June 2, when the 19th Congress resumes its session.

The Senate is supposed to convene as an impeachment court the next day, on June 3.

READ: House receives Senate notice on start of VP Duterte’s impeachment trial 

Duterte was impeached last Feb.5 after 215 House lawmakers filed and verified a fourth complaint, allowing the immediate transmittal of the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

READ: House impeaches Sara Duterte, fast-tracking transmittal to Senate

According to the 1987 Constitution, a trial should start forthwith if at least one-third of all House members—in this case, just 102 out of 306—have signed and endorsed the petition.

Among the allegations against Duterte that were cited in the impeachment complaint include her threats to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez;  the misuse of the confidential funds within the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Office of the Vice President (OVP), and bribery within the Department of Education./coa