Manila 3rd District Representative and House prosecutor Joel Chua on Saturday raised the possibility that unrest in the Senate could be used by the camp of Vice President Sara Duterte as a ‘strategy’ to delay the upcoming impeachment trial.

During a Saturday News forum on June 13, Chua said he does not rule out the idea that recent developments in the upper chamber may be part of a broader strategy to stall the impeachment trial against the Vice President.

Chua suggested that the timing of the Senate leadership shake-up and the shooting incident within the chamber coincided with key steps in the impeachment process, including the House plenary vote and the planned transmission of the articles of impeachment to the Senate.

“Tingin ko po, right from the very beginning, yun naman talaga yung kanilang strategy. Dahil kung titignan po ninyo yung pagkakasunod-sunod ng pagkakataon, nung araw po na kami po ay nagbobotohan sa plenaryo para po sa impeachment, yun din yung araw kung saan nagkagulo po yung leadership ng Senado,” Chua said,

“'Yung araw naman po na itatransmit po yung articles of impeachment sa Senado, yun din yung araw kung saan nagkaroon ng barilan din sa Senado,” Chua said, noting the sequence of events surrounding the impeachment proceedings and the Senate developments.

He added that some observers see a possible connection, although this has not been independently established.

“Marami po ang nagsasabi na baka may connection din. Baka talagang gusto nilang malihis 'yung totoong issue po dito sa impeachment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chua also reiterated that, under established Senate practice, the Senate President typically serves as presiding officer in impeachment trials involving impeachable officials such as the Vice President, the Ombudsman, or members of constitutional commissions.

He added that the House prosecution panel recognizes the current Senate leadership under Gatchalian as part of the institutional process moving forward.