The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) has issued a sharp rebuke of Senate President Chiz Escudero’s assertion that the Senate may dismiss the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte through a simple majority vote, calling the statement “gravely mistaken” and a threat to constitutional order.
In a strongly worded statement, Bayan Chairperson Teddy Casino expressed alarm over what he described as a dangerous misreading of the 1987 Constitution.
“Once the House transmits the Articles of Impeachment, the Senate’s role is not to judge their sufficiency or entertain motions to dismiss,” Casino said. “Its duty is to convene as an impeachment court, conduct a trial, and render judgment.”
Casino warned that any attempt to bypass a full trial would not only betray the Senate’s constitutional mandate but also erode public trust in democratic institutions.
“To entertain or allow a motion to dismiss the Articles of Impeachment would not only be out of order but a blatant usurpation of the constitutional process and a betrayal of the Senate’s solemn duty as an impeachment court,” he emphasized.
Escudero had earlier stated that the impeachment court could act on motions—including one to dismiss—by a simple majority vote, a position that has sparked backlash from legal experts and civil society groups.
Casino underscored that only a two-thirds vote of all senators can lead to conviction, and that any outcome—whether acquittal or otherwise—must follow a fair and public trial.
“The impeachment process is not a political inconvenience. It is a constitutional mechanism for accountability,” he said.
Calling on senators to rise above political calculations, Casino urged them to “convene as an impeachment court, hold the trial and render judgment based on the evidence—not on backroom deals or political calculations.”
Casino concluded with a stark reminder: “Let history judge those who choose to obstruct justice.” (ZIA LUNA)
