THE Office of the Vice President has been ‘duly served’ the summons of the Senate sitting as the impeachment court for VP Sara Duterte, according to Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, who said they expect her reply to be submitted by June 1, counting the non-extendible 10 calendar days given her by the court.
At Wednesday’s Senate session, Cayetano announced to his peers that he got word of the serving of summons on May 20, and the 10-calendar-day deadline from receipt of summons falls on May 30. However, since it is a Saturday and there is no work at the Senate, the deadline is on June 1, a Monday, the Senate chief explained.
The prosecution panel from the House of Representatives will then have five calendar days from receipt of the VP’s reply, also non-extendible, to respond to it.
The Senate convened last May 18 as an impeachment court for the vice president, who was impeached by 257 members of the House, way above the required number under the law. The HOR impeached her on four main charges, and has formed a prosecution team for each of the four articles of impeachment: misuse of confidential funds; unexplained wealth; bribery; and grave threats in relation to her revelation that she had contacted an assassin to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in case something happens to her.
At least 16 senators must vote to convict a subject of an impeachment trial.