Castro on delayed impeachment trial: Is Senate taking revenge on House?

MANILA, Philippines — ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro has asked if the delay in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is the Senate’s way of exacting revenge on the House of Representatives for submitting the articles of impeachment on the last session day in February.

Castro, one of the lawmakers who endorsed the initial impeachment complaints, raised this question on Tuesday as the Senate deferred the House prosecutors' presentation of the impeachment articles against Duterte to June 11.

June 11 is the last day of the session for the 19th Congress.

“So he moved [the presentation of the impeachment articles] from June 2 to June 11, which is the last day of the plenary session. So does this mean, SP [Senate President Escudero], that you’re getting back at the House of Representatives because we brought the impeachment articles to the Senate on the last session day in February?” Castro said in Filipino after Makabayan’s briefing at the House complex.

During the briefing, Castro also asked if Senate President Francis Escudero was keen on protecting the Filipino people’s interests or those of Vice President Duterte.

“So with due respect to our Senate President, my question here is: who are you protecting with such statements — is it the Filipino people or Sara Duterte?” Castro said.

“That’s why you should think about who you are protecting, especially you senators who won in the recent elections. Show that you are there to serve the people and not one person or family,” she added.

Escudero has been gettomg criticism from House members after he decided to reschedule the presentation of the articles of impeachment.

Last May 23, Escudero sent a letter to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez inviting the House prosecution panel to the Senate plenary on June 2 to present the articles.  Escudero said back then that on June 3, the next day, the Senate would convene as an impeachment court.

However, last Thursday, Escudero sent another letter to Romualdez informing that the reading of the articles will be rescheduled to June 11.

READ: Presentation of impeachment articles vs Sara Duterte moved to June 11 

On Monday, former Sen. and incoming Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima said Escudero is effectively violating the 1987 Constitution as Article XI, Section 3(4) states that if a verified impeachment complaint is “filed by at least one-third” of all House members, a “trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.”

One-third of the House is 102 out of 306 lawmakers, which means this requirement was satisfied after 215 lawmakers signed and filed the fourth impeachment complaint last February 5.

READ: De Lima: Escudero violating Constitution with impeachment trial delay

Akbayan party-list Rep. Percival Cendaña also asked if Escudero is afraid of Duterte, as he believed the Senate is delaying the impeachment trial.

“Is he afraid of Sara Duterte?” Cendaña asked.  “The Senate’s inaction risks being seen as a betrayal of its constitutional mandate and a deliberate attempt to shield the Vice President from accountability.”

Cendaña reminded the Senate of the different surveys stating that people want to see the impeachment trial, and that even the Vice President said that she sees the proceedings as a chance to defend herself.

READ: Sara Duterte agrees with poll: She should be tried

Duterte was impeached after lawmakers signed and verified a fourth complaint against her on allegations she misused confidential funds (CF) lodged in her offices, and threatened the lives of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

The fourth complaint was a combination of the first three impeachment raps filed by groups, which included findings of the House committee on good government and public accountability on Duterte's confidential funds in the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education, which she used to head.

(2025/06/03-16:30)