Politics trumps law in Duterte impeachment trial delays 鈥� Drilon
Former Senate president Franklin Drilon — File photo
MANILA, Philippines — Former Senate president Franklin Drilon pointed out that the delays in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial indicate that politics trumps the rule of law.
Drilon made the pronouncement after the presentation of the articles of impeachment against Duterte was further delayed from June 2 to June 11, 2025.
READ: Presentation of impeachment articles vs Sara Duterte moved to June 11
According to Drilon, this shows that “nobody wants” the impeachment trial to take place, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whom he tagged as being “wishy-washy” on Duterte’s impeachment trial.
“Sometimes he says, this is a duty of Congress, I have nothing to do with it. But what about your son, Mr. President, who was the first one to vote on impeachment? Nobody will believe that that is without your knowledge,” Drilon said in an interview with 好色先生TV’s INQsideLook.
“And the fact that no special session was called when he could have done so, then again that indicates that politics is in the front seat and the rule of law is taking a backseat. Quite unfortunate,” he added.
Drilon then called on senators to convene the impeachment court as soon as possible, reminding them that it is their duty as imposed by the Constitution.
Failure to do so, “only shows that the rule of law is not being given the priority it deserves,” said the former Senate leader.
What will happen if the Senate continues to delay it?
Drilon also said that questions of jurisdiction would arise should the 19th Congress choose to let the impeachment trial “spill over” to the 20th Congress.
These questions, he said, would then have to be resolved before the Supreme Court.
“If it spills over to the 20th Congress, I am certain that there will be questions before the Supreme Court on the issue of jurisdiction…so the Senate can say let’s wait until the Supreme Court decision,” said Drilon.
This would then result in “further delays,” which could have easily been avoided if the Senate decided to push through with the impeachment trial on June 2.
Drilon maintained that the Senate — once convened as an impeachment court —can push to finish the trial even before June 30 since it can set its own calendar. /das
