Iloilo Representative Lorenz Defensor said Sunday that the House of Representatives respects the Senate’s timetable for procedures related to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. This came after Senate President Francis Escudero rejected the House’s prosecution team's motion to issue summons against Duterte to answer the articles of impeachment filed against her amid the session break. “Wala pa kaming pormal na natatanggap sa Senado ngunit we take our cue from the Senate President at ginagalang namin yun lalo na yung inilatag niyang schedule, hindi namin siya kukulitin. We will respect the Senate President,” Defensor told Super Radyo dzBB. (We have yet to receive a formal rejection from the Senate, but we take our cue from the Senate President and we respect that, especially the released schedule. We won’t bother with that. We will respect the Senate President.) He added that the House prosecution team will continue preparing while waiting for the impeachment trial to start. Also on DzBB, Escudero explained that an impeachment trial will not commence while Congress is in recess. “Maganda ang panahong ito para ang lahat ay makapaghanda, para kapag nagsimula ito, wala nang delay,” Escudero said. (This is a good time for everyone to prepare so that when we begin the trial, there is no delay.) Escudero earlier said Duterte’s impeachment trial will likely begin on July 30. Betrayal of public trust The House impeached Duterte in February on several grounds, including the alleged misuse of her office's confidential funds as well as her declaration that she had contracted someone to assassinate President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. if she were killed. Defensor, a House prosecutor for the impeachment, called Duterte’s assassination remark a “clear violation and betrayal of public trust.” “It should be considered a high crime at dapat mapanagot ang isang mataas na opisyal lalo na isang bise presidente ang nagsabi nito sa harap ng sambayanan,” Defensor said. (It should be considered a high crime and a high-ranking official, especially a vice president, should be held accountable for saying this in front of the people.) Duterte defended her remark, saying it was not a threat.— BM, GMA Integrated News