Senado, ganap nang Impeachment Court; tuloy ang paglilitis kay VP Sara Duterte

- The Philippine Senate has officially constituted itself as an Impeachment Court, Tuesday, June 10, 2025 with senators taking their oaths as judges for the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte

- Senate President Francis Escudero advanced the court’s convening to immediately tackle a motion to dismiss the impeachment case, a move opposed by Senators Risa Hontiveros and Joel Villanueva

- Presiding officer Escudero ruled that the Senate is constitutionally bound to proceed with the trial and “lacks the power to dismiss an impeachment complaint” at this stage

- Senator Francis Tolentino filed a resolution proposing a 19-day expedited trial calendar, aiming to conclude the proceedings by June 30, 2025, before the current 19th Congress’ term expires

The Philippine Senate officially convened as an impeachment court on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, setting in motion the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

The solemn occasion saw senators take their oath as judges, signifying their constitutional duty to preside over the proceedings, even as initial efforts by some allies of the Vice President sought to impede the process.

Senate President Francis Escudero, who had taken his oath as the presiding officer the previous evening, steered the proceedings, opting to advance the formal convening of the court.

This decision was made to promptly address a motion filed by a senator (reportedly Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa) aimed at dismissing the impeachment case against Vice President Duterte.

The articles of impeachment against the Vice President were formally transmitted by the House of Representatives to the Senate on February 5, 2025, initiating the Senate's role as the sole judge of all impeachment cases.

During Tuesday’s session, the procedural move to dismiss the case faced objections from Senators Risa Hontiveros and Joel Villanueva.

Senator Hontiveros specifically urged the Senate to adhere to the pre-scheduled oath-taking of senators as judges, underscoring the importance of following established protocol.

In a pivotal ruling, Senate President Escudero sided with Senator Villanueva’s contention that the Senate is constitutionally bound to proceed with the trial and “lacks the power to dismiss an impeachment complaint” at this stage.

Following this ruling, Escudero ordered a brief suspension of the session to allow senator-judges to don their formal impeachment robes, subscribe to their oaths, formally approve the trial rules, and then address the motion to dismiss.

In anticipation of the trial, Senator Francis Tolentino, on Monday, filed Resolution 1367, proposing an expedited calendar for the proceedings.

His resolution outlines a tight 19-day schedule, designed to ensure the trial's conclusion before the current 19th Congress’ term expires at noon on June 30, 2025.

Senator Tolentino emphasized that this accelerated timeline is crucial “without compromising the integrity of the Senate and the substance of the impeachment trial including the rights of the parties.”

His objective is to provide a “full and fair opportunity to articulate their respective positions” while preventing the “unresolved and constitutionally precarious implications of allowing such proceedings to extend to the next Congress.”

Tolentino cited historical precedents from the United States, noting that shortened impeachment trials are not without example.

He referenced the first impeachment trial of President Donald Trump, which concluded within a period of ten days in January 2020, and his second trial in February 2021, which spanned only five days.

Based on Senator Tolentino’s proposed calendar, the trial would commence with the formal constitution of the Impeachment Court on June 11, followed by a ten-day period for Vice President Duterte to submit her answer by June 21.

Subsequent days would involve the prosecution's reply, submission of trial briefs, and opening statements on June 23.

The presentation of evidence by both prosecution and defense is scheduled for June 24-26, with rebuttals on June 27.

Oral arguments are slated for June 28, followed by a closed-door meeting of senator-judges on June 29, culminating in the rendition of a verdict on June 30.

This structured approach aims to ensure a timely resolution to a significant political event in the country.

News, photos, or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, this could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.

In other news, a TNVS driver in Tondo, Manila foiled an attempted robbery by driving straight to a police outpost after sensing his passengers had malicious intent. CCTV footage showed three suspects fleeing around 2 a.m., with police in pursuit; two of the four suspects were arrested on the spot. Authorities recovered a .38 caliber handgun and discovered the suspects had prior cases involving murder, dr&gs, and child abu&e. One suspect admitted involvement due to financial hardship, saying, “Mali po talaga... Gipit,” while another claimed they were unaware of the plan.

Still in other news, a couple died after the motorcycle that they were riding was hit by a vehicle in Zamboanga City. According to News5, the vehicle that struck them was allegedly being driven by a minor. CCTV footage showed that the motorcycle was crossing to the other lane as it was making a U-turn when they were hit by a white sedan. The footage no longer showed where the bodies of the victim were thrown, but it showed that the white car slammed into a concrete fence before catching fire.

Source: KAMI.com.gh