MANILA — House Deputy Minority Leader Perci Cendaña expressed hope Wednesday that a possible Senate impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte will begin before President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers his State of the Nation Address in July.

In a report, Cendaña outlined a timeline where probable cause could be determined while Congress is in recess, with the matter reaching the House plenary by May, followed by transmittal of the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

“We are hopeful na matapos ito within the break para pag-resume natin nang Mayo, maisalang na ito sa plenaryo. Makapaglabas na tayo ng articles of impeachment, maiakyat na sa Senado, and the soonest time possible, hopefully before SONA sana, masimulan na ang impeachment trial,” he said.

Ahead of the next House Committee on Justice meeting on April 14 regarding the impeachment complaints, Cendaña said he is in constant communication with the backers of the second complaint, which was withdrawn in favor of a third complaint now being pursued.

“Kung matatandaan ng ating mga kababayan, nag-endorse tayo nung second complaint with the civil society representatives who also filed the first complaint in the 19th Congress. So constant ‘yung ating communication with them para tiyakin na maco-cover natin lahat ng grounds that were mentioned in the second impeachment complaint, which eventually, we threw our support sa third impeachment complaint na mayroon tayo ngayon,” Cendaña said.

Cendaña also cited the expected testimony of Duterte’s self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga, which he said could help establish a link between the vice president and a supposed scam involving confidential funds.

“Pero also at the same time, we hope to establish through the evidence that will be gathered ‘yung pattern that will eventually lead to ‘yung usapin ng ill-gotten wealth na lalabas ito ‘pag lumabas na ‘yung kanyang SALN at ‘yung other relevant documents,” he added.

He also stressed that Duterte must face accountability after announcing her presidential bid.

“Sa totoo lang, sa kanyang pag-a-announce ng kanyang bid for the presidency, wala siyang choice. Kailangan niyang humarap sa accountability na sinasabi niya, gagawin niya ‘yun pagdating sa Senate, at iwasan na niya ‘yung kanyang laging pagtakbo sa Supreme Court para pigilan ang prosesong ito. Walang karapatan ang isang tao na gustong maging presidente ng Pilipinas na laging tumatakas sa pananagutan,” Cendaña said.

Meanwhile, House Committee on Justice member Terry Ridon said all subpoenaed documents, including Duterte’s statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN) and income tax returns for her and her husband, are expected to be submitted by next week.

“Hopefully by the end of next week, complete na po– nakapag-submit na po ‘yun pong lahat ng mga na-issue-an po ng subpoena. So our expectation from, particularly the government agencies, so our expectation from the BIR, the Ombudsman, and from ‘yun pong Securities and Exchange Commission, lahat po ng tax documents, corporate documents, ng pangalawang pangulo, ni Atty. Mans Carpio at ng kanila pong mga kumpanya ay naisumite na po sa komite,” Ridon said.

Cendaña expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will dismiss a petition seeking a temporary restraining order against the impeachment proceedings, citing the committee’s careful adherence to constitutional procedures.

“Kung babasahin natin ‘yung petition nung mga lawyers na alam naman nating alyado ng vice president, talagang walang basis ‘yung kanilang petisyon sa Supreme Court. So kung ako lang ang tatanungin, sana dedmahin nalang ng Supreme Court itong petisyon na ito,” he said.

Duterte previously said the lawyers who filed the petition did not consult her.