Senate President Francis Escudero insisted that the Senate cannot tackle the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte while on break.

In a radio interview on Sunday, Escudero made this remark in response to a suggestion by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III at the Kapihan sa Senado last week for the Senate President to hold a caucus or informal meetings between the senators to discuss the impeachment.

Escudero said a caucus among senators does not equate to a special session that can convene an impeachment court.

"The caucus, coffee, snack, ... does not equate to a special session that can convene an impeachment court", Escudero said.

Escudero said he has yet to discuss the matter in person with Pimentel.

The impeachment of Duterte will be discussewd at the resumption of the Congress session in June 2 while the trial itself will begin at the 20th Congress on July 28, Escudero said. Marie Manalili/DMS