MANILA, Philippines — The impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte have reportedly reached a critical phase due to delays orchestrated by Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero.

During a privilege speech, House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers Representative France Castro condemned Escudero for allegedly failing to adhere to the Constitution, which mandates prompt action on impeachment complaints by the Senate.

"Despite the constitutional directive that the Senate must conduct hearings for impeached officials without delay, we are witnessing troubling attempts to postpone and undermine this process.

We submitted the impeachment complaint to the Senate in February, yet it has been FOUR LONG MONTHS—where is the 'forthwith' in this?" questioned Castro.

Underlying these delays is the Senate's interpretation of its role in the impeachment process.

Escudero stated that the senators of the 20th Congress will ultimately decide whether to proceed with the trial.

With only six sessions remaining before the 19th Congress adjourns on June 13, he indicated that the next Congress, which convenes after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s State of the Nation Address on July 28, will handle the trial.

Escudero emphasized that any decisions made by the 19th Congress regarding the impeachment process are not binding on the 20th Congress, suggesting that members may hold differing views.

"Whatever the decision may be, it cannot bind the 20th Congress.

The plenary will ultimately determine the course of action, and its decisions will prevail over any individual opinion, including that of the Senate President," he explained.

Recently, Escudero announced a postponement of the reading of the articles of impeachment from June 2 to June 11, citing the necessity of prioritizing legislative agenda items before the Congress's departure.

This has caused further frustration among those pushing for a swift resolution to the impeachment proceedings.

Leila de Lima, congresswoman-elect and vocal supporter of the impeachment process, criticized Escudero's hesitations.

She expressed concern that the impeachment trial is not optional and urged clarity on the Senate's position.

De Lima asserted that the Senate has a constitutional obligation to act on impeachment complaints "forthwith."

With the impeachment complaint originating from a vote by 215 House members on February 5, the Senate received the articles shortly after.

However, the upper chamber refrained from addressing the complaint in its final session before the break for the upcoming 2025 elections.

During the recess, the Senate contended that it could not convene as an impeachment court and maintained that only President Marcos had the authority to call a special session.

The President, while expressing a preference against impeachment proceedings against his vice president, has remained publicly silent on the matter.

In prior interactions, he revealed that he discouraged House lawmakers from pursuing the impeachment.

Given the ongoing delays, discussions have arisen about possibly taking the matter to the Supreme Court to address the constitutional implications of its progress.

If the Senate does not conduct the trial, it is likely that the House prosecution panel could seek judicial intervention, especially as substantial groundwork for the impeachment has already been laid.

Escudero's approach has drawn criticism from various groups, including the People’s Impeachment Movement, which cautioned that the ongoing delays could undermine public confidence in democratic institutions.

Recent surveys indicate that a significant majority of Filipinos believe that Duterte should face impeachment charges.

Vice President Duterte herself has voiced agreement with being put on trial.

Legal experts suggest that should the trial not proceed, the 20th Congress might have the option to restart the proceedings with a new set of senator-judges and House-appointed prosecutors.

If the trial continues, Vice President Duterte would require at least nine votes in her favor to secure acquittal, while 16 votes would be necessary for conviction, a scenario that could prevent her from seeking future office.