House Deputy Speaker David Suarez of Quezon on Monday said the House of Representatives will wait for the Senate to formally act on the proposed 19-day impeachment calendar before making any comment or response.
Suarez was referring to the proposal of Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, who floated the possibility of concluding Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial within 19 session days.
The proposal has not yet been calendared for plenary debate or adopted as a Senate resolution.
“Well, I have not seen the impeachment calendar. I think it’s a mere proposal,” Suarez said in a media ambush interview.
“Until we see something concrete from the Senate, I think they will be having their session today (Monday), perhaps we will comment on that in due time,” he added.
Suarez said several senators have also clarified that until there is formal plenary action on the proposal, it remains unofficial. “So, those are mere pieces of paper only.”
On the possibility of trimming down the number of the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President, Suarez declined to speak for the House prosecution panel, but affirmed the bigger chamber’s position.
“Well, I can’t speak on behalf of the prosecutors but we signed the Articles of Impeachment, and we identified seven articles,” Suarez said.
He emphasized that the House awaits a clear and institutional response from the Senate before reacting further.