MANILA: While a special session may be called during the break of Congress, it may not be used as a venue to convene an impeachment court that will try the case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero shared this opinion on Thursday (Feb 6), a day after the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte were transmitted to the Senate for trial.
But Congress went on break on Wednesday without tackling in the Senate plenary the impeachment bid against the vice president.
Congress will resume its sessions on June 2.
Still, Escudero recognized the possibility that a special session of Congress may be called by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. even during the break.
“Yes, that can happen. But the calling of a special session, as far as I know, is not to convene an impeachment court,” he said at the regular Kapuhan sa Senado.
“As far as I know, the calling of a special session is for important things and bills that need to be passed,” the Senate leader explained.
“According to our Constitution, this is not one or maybe covered by that provision related to the special session, but we will deal with it when it is there,” he noted.
“Of course, when a special session is called, whether we agree or not, of course we will attend,” he further said.
In the same forum, Escudero pointed out that an impeachment court can only be convened when there is a plenary session.
But since it did not happen before the Senate ended its session on Wednesday, he said an impeachment trial cannot be done “legally” during the break. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
