Koko Pimentel: Senate may convene impeachment court on its own
Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero — Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines — Without the President calling for a special session, the Senate may convene on its own as an impeachment court, Senate Minority Leader Aquino Pimentel III said on Wednesday.
Pimentel floated two possibilities on how the Senate can still act as an impeachment court to try the case against Vice President Sara Duterte even during the break of Congress.
The first way is for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to call for a special session and for the majority of senators to agree to convene the Senate as an impeachment court, the opposition leader said.
“You know what I’m thinking right now? Because this is an impeachment court, this is a different personality; maybe it’s possible that just we, senators, as long as we have an agreement and we have a quorum, with more than 12 of us in attendance, maybe we can call for our own session as a court,” Pimentel said in Filipino over Radyo 630.
“Because how can we fulfill our obligation under the Constitution if we are still dependent on another person, the President, to call a special session?” he added.
Article continues after this advertisementIt would also appear, he said, that the Senate is just passing its constitutional mandate to the President, who is not part of the chamber.
Article continues after this advertisement“So that seems a bit unclear. So we should be able to act now to fulfill our obligation. We should not be dependent on a person who is not a member of ours,” he said in Filipino.
Asked in a text message how the Senate can agree to hold a session even during the break, Pimentel said they have yet to think of a way to do it first.
“Pag-isipan dapat. Buhusan ng Kokote power. Use your Kokote!” said the senator, citing his campaign tagline.
(It should be thought over. Pour some brainpower into it. Use your brain.)
Pimentel is running as a representative of Marikina’s first district in the upcoming May 2025 national and local elections.
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Last February 5, the Senate went on break without acting on the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte, which was just transmitted by the House of Representatives barely two hours after it ended its session.
READ: Senate goes on break without tackling impeach bid vs VP Duterte
The House impeached Duterte with the support of 215 of 306 lawmakers. But the number reportedly climbed to 240 even after the transmittal of the impeachment petition to the Senate.
In a letter to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero on February 14, Pimentel asked his leadership to act on the impeachment petition without delay.
READ: Pimentel tells Escudero: Acting fast on Duterte’s impeachment is Senate duty
