Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III has called on Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero to immediately start the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, emphasizing that it is the Senate’s constitutional mandate to do so.
In a letter addressed to Escudero dated February 14, Pimentel cited Section 3(4), Article XI of the 1987 Constitution which states:
“In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House of Representatives, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.”
Pimentel stressed that the word “forthwith” denotes urgency…