Manila, March 3 -- Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Monday expressed appreciation for Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III's willingness to lead the drafting of rules for the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

"I welcome and thank Sen. Pimentel's offer to help draft the proposed rules. I will instruct the legal team to coordinate with him on this matter," he said in a Viber message to reporters.

However, Escudero emphasized that all proposals, including rules and the trial calendar, require approval in plenary or by the Impeachment Court once sessions resume on June 2.

"Again, all of these are simply proposals that will have to be approved in plenary and/or by the Impeachment Court once we re...