MANILA, March 17 -- Senate President Francis"Chiz" Escudero on Monday dismissed speculations that the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte would affect the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, asserting the two matters are unrelated.

"Magkahiwalay na insidente yun. Wala akong nakikitang ugnayan ng dalawang yun at hindi rason na maantala anuman ang dapat gawin ng Senado kaugnay sa trabaho namin dito at kung anuman ang nangyayari sa (Those are separate incidents. I see no connection between the two and there is no reason to delay whatever the Senate should do in relation to our work here and whatever is happening in the) The Hague," Escudero said in a briefing at the Senate.

The Senate is scheduled to handle ...