Senate President Francis 鈥淐hiz鈥� Escudero and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino 鈥淜oko鈥� Pimentel (File photos from the Senate Social Media Unit)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Although he is against it, Senate President Francis 鈥淐hiz鈥� Escudero said the upper chamber may 鈥渃onsider鈥� the possibility of convening as an impeachment court to try the case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The idea was first broached by Senate Minority Leader Aquilino 鈥淜oko鈥� Pimentel III in an interview over Radyo 630 on Wednesday.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 agree with that, but we will consider it,鈥� Escudero said in Filipino at a press conference in Quezon City when asked about Pimentel鈥檚 opinion.
鈥淲hy? The court needs to convene in an open session. The impeachment complaint needs to be referred in an open session. The senators need to take an oath as judges in an open session,鈥� he added. 鈥淣ow, if I do that, it seems that it would go against my position and stand, which is to carefully proceed with this without rushing and without making any mistakes or missteps.鈥�
Escudero also said he does not want to give the Duterte camp another ammunition against the Senate based on an idea or opinion that has no legal standing or provision in the Constitution.
He said he would just refer the matter to the Senate rules committee and its legal team to study it.
Pimentel floated two options on how the Senate can still act as an impeachment court even during the break of Congress.
First, for the President to call a special session and second, for the majority of senators to agree to the convening of the impeachment court.
READ: Koko Pimentel: Senate may convene impeachment court on its own
But for Escudero, only an 鈥渙rder of the court鈥� can compel the Senate to act immediately on the impeachment case against Duterte.
鈥淏ut then again if the court orders that, then the Senate would have to meet and decide鈥� But if you ask me, we should accord due respect to the decisions of the court,鈥� the Senate chief added.
The petition filed at the high tribunal is asking the SC to compel the Senate to form an impeachment court and start the trial against Duterte.
Duterte and her allies also filed separate petitions to stop the impeachment moves against her.
READ: VP Sara Duterte files petition at SC to stop impeachment moves against her