📷:Bagong Alyansang Makabayan | FB
Senate President Chiz Escudero responded sarcastically to criticism over the postponement of Senate discussions on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment proceedings.
Escudero challenged complainants by asking, “Magandang tanungin yun sa kanila, ano bang nawala sa kanila? Ano bang naidagdag sa kampo ni Vice President Sara? Ano bang nawala sa kampo ni Vice President Sara? Ano bang nadagdag sa kanila sa pagtulak ng petsa sa June 11. May nakalamang ba dahil doon na panig? Pakipaliwanag kasi sa palagay ko, sa tingin ko eh wala naman.”
He remained unfazed by threats of continuous protests from impeachment complainants, instead pointing out that they had previously failed to act promptlyon the impeachment complaint in the House of Representatives, which sat unaddressed for months.
“Karapatan nila yun pero kung pwede ko lang sana balik-tanawan, pwede bang i-rally ko rin sila ng apat na buwang hindi nila inaksyunan ung impeachmeant complaint na inihain nung Disyembre?” Escudero remarked.
“Kung sila mismo hindi nagmadali. Inupuan at pabandying-bandying sa mahabang panahon, sino naman sila para madaliin kami ngayon. Hindi porket gusto nila eh ganun na at nung ayaw naman nila eh karapatan din nilang magpa bandying-bandying at idelay yun,” he added.
The Constitution mandates that the Senate must convene as an impeachment court once the House transmits the articles of impeachment. However, Senate President Chiz Escudero emphasized that every action in the Senate—including the convening of the impeachment court—is subject to a vote.
He explained that even procedural matters, such as asking if there are any objections, reflect a form of consensus decision-making.
“Lahat ng ginagawa ng Senado dumaraan sa botohan, ung simpleng tanong ng presiding officer is there any objection? Hindi ibig sabihin nun walang botohan yun. Ibig sabihin nun unanimous ung boto para gawin un. Lahat ng gagawin namin, bawat aksyon, palaging is there any objection hinid ba? So all of those are subject to a vote by plenary,” he explained.
Regarding whether the Senate’s decision prevails over the Constitution, Escudero stated, “Hindi. Pero depende na iyon sa basa ninuman ng saligang Batas kaya nga may Korte Suprema para magsabi tama ang ginawa nyo, mali ang ginawa nyo, depende sa pananaw ng sinumang nais maghain ng kaso laban sa kung sinumang opisyal o opisina ng pamahalaan.” (ZIA LUNA)
