Starting VP Duterte impeachment trial in July is too late 鈥� solons
Senate President Francis Escudero and Vice President Sara Duterte —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA AND GRIG MONTEGRANDE
MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers have admitted that they are already sounding like a “broken record” when it comes to insisting that Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial should start “forthwith” as the Constitution states.
In an online briefing on Tuesday, Assistant Majority Leaders Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre and Taguig City 2nd District Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora said that while they respect the Senate’s impeachment trial timetable, starting the trial by late June or July would be too late and would run contrary to the 1987 Constitution’s definition 0f “forthwith.”
“Three months is too long for us to say that we can start the trial there. We can do it after the elections and we do not have to follow the legislative calendar which will end, and if we start it after the elections, then we can move on and we do not have to wait until June or July,” Acidre said in Filipino.
“We have been repeatedly saying this but honestly, nothing has happened. We seem to sound like a broken record but that is what is right. We hope our senators would listen to us because we would not get tired of giving our reminders as in the end, history will be the better judge of us,” he added.
Zamora said she does not understand why senators insist on delaying the hearings when legal minds and even the Constitution’s framers have agreed on the interpretation of “forthwith.”
Article continues after this advertisementUnder the 1987 Constitution, an impeachment trial should start forthwith if at least one-third of all House of Representatives members — in this case, 102 out of 306 — have signed and endorsed the petition.
Article continues after this advertisementOn February 5, 215 lawmakers signed and endorsed the fourth impeachment complaint against Duterte.
“There are many legal luminaries who have said that we do not need to follow the legislative calendar of the Senate or of Congress for that matter just so the impeachment proceedings can start, from [retired Supreme Court Associate] Justice [Antonio] Carpio, different justices, other legal luminaries, have spoken,” Zamora said in Filipino.
“However, we would still follow what the Senate would do, so again, as what Cong. Jude said, we sound like broken records already but we have no choice but to adhere to their will, what they want to happen will be followed,” she added.
Acidre said despite their call, they still respect the Senate, as the legislative chamber would be in charge of the impeachment proceedings.
“It’s hard for us to comment as to how the Senate would do their jobs because, with all due respect to parliamentary courtesy, inter-chamber courtesy, the Senate will have to be responsible for their own actions especially if the question is about whether they should do their mandate immediately,” he said.
House lawmakers impeached Duterte for alleged misuse of confidential funds lodged within her offices, threats to ranking officials including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., and conduct unbecoming of a Vice President.
READ: House impeaches VP Sara Duterte, fast-tracking transmittal to Senate
The trial, however, has yet to start because the petition transmitted to the Senate was not brought to the plenary before the session adjourned.
Senate President Francis Escudero said that the trial would start by July 30, with the new set of lawmakers after the 2025 midterm elections sitting as senator-judges.
Members of the House’s prosecution team, like Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua, however, raised concerns about the possibility of evidence crucial to the impeachment case being tampered and witnesses being threatened while the trial continues to be delayed.
READ: VP Duterte impeachment trial delay may endanger evidence, witness – Chua
Escuero previously said that the impeachment trial of Duterte would start no later than June, or when the 19th Congress resumes its session. But last February 26, Escudero said the trial would start by July 30 and end by October 2025.
READ: Senate can wrap up Sara Duterte impeachment trial in 3 months – Escudero
