Senators call for a caucus regarding Duterte impeachment trial
Senators are calling for a caucus regarding the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
MANILA, Philippines — Amid uncertainties surrounding the conduct of an , several senators have called on Senate President Chiz Escudero to hold an all-member caucus.
Among the senators who want a caucus is former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri.
“I actually don’t know what’s happening now. What we need is to have a caucus. The Senate president has to call for an all-member caucus to discuss what are the next steps in the next few days,” speaking mixed English and Filipino, Zubiri told reporters in an ambush interview on Monday.
This was seconded by Sen. Loren Legarda, who acknowledged the ongoing “confusion” in the chamber and the public alike about the impeachment talks.
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“Amidst public confusion and varying opinions [regarding] the impeachment, it is incumbent upon the Senate to hold a caucus immediately and discuss it in the plenary so that the statements and decisions are not made unilaterally,” she said.
Prior to Zubiri and Legarda’s calls, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos already signified their intent to call for an all-member caucus.
These calls came in light of the chamber’s nearing convening into an impeachment court. Initially set on June 2, Escudero previously moved the reading of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte to June 11.
According to him, the change in schedule was made “to allow the Senate to tackle priority legislative measures before the 19th Congress adjourns.”
The reading of the Articles of Impeachment would allow the Senate to convene into an impeachment court and tackle the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte.
But noting the need to tackle the impeachment case against the country’s second top leader, opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros said the minority bloc — during Monday’s plenary session — would make a motion to initiate the proceedings against Duterte./mr
