By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The scheduled visit of Vietnam’s President to the Philippine Senate on Monday was unexpectedly canceled, according to Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano.
The Vietnamese leader was originally expected to arrive at the Senate around noon, prompting the upper chamber to adjust its plenary session schedule from the usual 3 p.m. start to 5 p.m. to accommodate the diplomatic engagement.
However, the visit was called off before it could take place, with Senate officials providing no explanation for the cancellation. Despite the change in plans, there was no immediate advisory indicating whether the Senate session would revert to its regular schedule.
With the cancellation of the high-profile diplomatic visit, attention at the Senate has shifted to the ongoing impeachment proceedings involving Vice President Sara Duterte.
Senate officials are expecting representatives of the Vice President to submit her formal response to the Articles of Impeachment transmitted by the House of Representatives. The filing is anticipated to take place sometime between noon and the afternoon.
The Senate, acting as an impeachment court, has been preparing for the next phase of proceedings as legal and political observers closely monitor developments in the case.
Monday serves as the deadline for Vice President Duterte to answer the writ of summons issued by the Senate impeachment court.
Her response is expected to outline the legal arguments and defenses she intends to raise against the impeachment complaint and will become part of the official record of the proceedings.
The filing is considered a significant milestone in the impeachment process, as it paves the way for the Senate to determine the succeeding procedural steps and timetable for the case.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes remain on the Senate, where both the political and legal implications of the impeachment proceedings continue to command national attention.
ia/xf
