📷 Senate President Chiz Escudero
The impeachment trial for Vice President Sara Duterte is set to begin only after the upper chamber reconvenes on June 2, as announced by Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on Thursday.
Escudero has expressed his concerns regarding the House of Representatives, suggesting that they are hastily pushing the Senate to conduct the impeachment trial against impeached Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Hindi naman siguro makatarungan o tama na matapos nilang upuan ito ng ilang buwan, biglang pupwersahin at pipilitin at sasabihan kami ng sinumang galing sa kamara na “Hoy, bilisan ninyo, aksyunan ninyo. Ano ba kayo? Hindi dapat. Hindi ganun at hindi rin ako papayag na ganun,” Escudero said.
The Senate President clarified that the impeachment process can only take place during a plenary session, under Senate rules which state that “the Senate President shall take proper order of the subject of impeachment.”
“Ibig sabihin nun isaayos muna ng Senate President ang Senado para sa pag-conduct ng pagdinig o trial,” Escudero stated.
“Para mag-convene ang impeachment court, dapat may sesyon ang Senado. Para manumpa ang impeachment judges, kailangan may sesyon ang Senado. Bagaman ang trial pwedeng mag-proceed kahit na recess, tulad ng nangyari kay dating at yumaong Chief Justice [Renato] Corona, dapat ito ay masimulan, ma-convene, at mapanumpa ang mga judges kapag may session,” he added.
While the impeachment court has yet to be formed, he noted that it is possible to review all related processes, including updates to the rules governing impeachment.
Former Bayan Muna Representative Neri Colmenares stated that the impeachment court could potentially conclude its proceedings before June 30.
He emphasized that it is not necessary to discuss all grounds for impeachment, as was done in the case of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.
Colmenares underscored that only one solid basis is required for a guilty verdict against Duterte, and therefore, senators should prioritize the strongest evidence.
“The impeachment court can finish the impeachment trial before June 30. They dont need to tackle all the grounds. Just as in the Corona impeachment. They only need one ground to convict. Kaya umahin nila ang pinakamalakas,” said Colmenares, one of the prosecutors in the Corona impeachment trial representing Bayan Muna in 2012. (ZIA LUNA)
