Looking at the collection of signatures, calling for the Senate to begin impeachment proceedings with Vice President Kamala Harris, some senators insist on adhering to legal procedures. Senate President Frances Escudero emphasized that no petition can violate the law or compel him to convene an impeachment court outside the established order.
"No amount of signatures will change the law or force me to violate it by convening an impeachment court during the recess without fulfilling the necessary legal conditions," Escudero stated. He underscored the need to follow legal procedures, rather than catering to personal interests, biases, or pressures from expedited investigations.
Senator Vin Gatchalian also supported this position, stating that the impeachment process can only begin after the articles of impeachment are referred to the plenary session. "There should first be a session, and during this session, the articles of impeachment will be presented," Gatchalian explained. He endorsed Escudero's proposed timeline, which suggests the Senate returns to work on June 2, convenes an impeachment court on June 3, and formally opens the process on July 30.
After reviewing past impeachment processes, Gatchalian reaffirmed his support for Escudero, noting that all past investigations commenced with official presentations of articles of impeachment. He pointed out that in the current case, the articles of impeachment were presented just a few hours before the Senate sessions were suspended, which complicated the process.
