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Actual impeach trial may start during 20th Congress: Senate President Francis “Chiz” G. Escudero explains that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will most likely start on the 20th Congress when new set of 12 senators are elected during the May 2025 midterm elections. Escudero said that before the actual impeachment trial, the Senate, as a legislative body, would have to come out and approve the rules to be followed by the impeachment court, issue summonses, and conduct pre-trial briefing, among other procedures. “Most likely the actual trial will begin in the 20th Congress,” Escudero said during the media briefing Monday, February 10, 2025. “Most likely when the new Congress already enters into its function, that means after SONA (State of the Nation Address),” he stressed. President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will deliver his fourth SONA on July 28, 2025, the commencement of the First Regular Session of the 20th Congress. The impeachment trial will start after that day, Escudero said. The Senate leader also said the House of Representatives can always vote to withdraw the impeachment complaint after the elections and before the opening of the 20th Congress. “What is preventing them from doing that? But even if they do so, the decision to allow it is still the decision of the impeachment court... “ he said. He reiterated that the Senate would not call for a special session for the body to convene as an impeachment court. The Senate adjourned session last February 8 and would resume on June 2. But during recess, the Senate will first approve the rules governing the court proceedings. He said that like the impeachment of the late Supreme Court Justice Renato Corona, summonses will be issued during recess against the accused and the prosecution. After the summonses, he said there will be a pre-trial when judicial affidavits will be prepared. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)