Vice President Sara Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on the last day of its session on Wednesday but it was a different story at the Senate.
According to reports, a total of 215 lawmakers supported the fourth impeachment complaint, which was filed the same day, surpassing even two-thirds of the lower chamber’s 306 members.
The impeachment process, however, hit a snag on Wednesday night as the Senate unanimously adjourned session until after its recess past the May mid-term elections.
The Senate has adjourned its plenary session until June 2, 2025, without tackling or calling out the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte earlier Wednesday.
Upon a motion of Senator Joel Villanueva, Senate President Francis Escudero adjourned the session until June 2, 2025 without the articles of impeachment on the agenda.
No one objected in the moments between the time the motion was made and when the Senate chief approved the motion to adjourn.
The vice president is facing three impeachment complaints over alleged misuse of public funds, violation of the constitution, and betrayal of public trust.
The 11 lawmakers who will serve as prosecutors in the impeachment trial of Duterte are Rep. Gerville “JinkyBitrics” Luistro (Batangas, 2nd District), Rep. Romeo Acop (Antipolo, 2nd District), Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez (1-Rider Partylist), Rep. Joel Chua (Manila, 3rd District), Rep. Rau Angelo “Jil” Bongalon (AKO Bicol), Rep. Loreto Acharon (General Santos, Lone District), Rep. Marcelino Libanan (4Ps Party-list), Rep. Arnan Panaligan (Oriental Mindoro, 1st District), Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora (San Juan, Lone District), Rep. Lorenz Defensor (Iloilo, 3rd District), and Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores (Bukidnon, 2nd District).
The lists of signatories who signed the impeachment were also shared online top billed by Presidential son and Ilocos Norte Representative Sandro Marcos.
As of this writing, neither President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. nor the vice president has yet to issue their respective statements concerning the impeachment.
Meanwhile, Davao City First District Representative Paolo “Pulong” Duterte warned of the consequences of “sham impeachment”.
He said that the impeachment move was a “scam” and warned that those pushing the impeachment face the growing discontent and frustration of the Filipino people.
“If Marcos administration thinks it can push this sham impeachment without consequence, they are gravely mistaken. This is not just about the will of the Filipino people. The growing discontent and frustration across the country will not be contained for long. Mark my words: this reckless abuse of power will not end in their favor,” he said.
Davao City Councilor Diosdado Mahipus, Jr. is optimistic that the impeachment will not affect Duterte as she will eventually elected as president in 2028.
“Kanang ilang gibuhat karon na akong nabalitaan wala gihapon na’y maadtuan na matarong kay si Inday Sara mahimong presidente gihapon sa Pilipinas sa umaabot. Saad namo na sa katawhang Pilipino,” Mahipus told the media.
Former presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that the vice president’s legal team is ready for an impeachment trial.
“She will face the impeachment — smilingly, courageously, and competently,” Panelo said.
Panelo added that the impeachment’s purpose is to destroy and besmirch the reputation of the vice president with the ultimate goal of disqualifying her from the 2028 presidential elections, being the leading contender.
Davao City Third District Isidro Ungab said the impeachment moves in the lower House is a futile exercise as Congress will be on recess starting on Thursday.
“This is a diversion from the real issue which is the anomalous budget process as shown by the 28 blank items in the bicam report,” he said.
Ungab was referring to the alleged “blank” entries in the Bicameral Conference Committee report on the 2025 national budget.
He claimed that at least 13 pages of the budget include items with blank appropriations.
