Christian Monsod (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� 鈥淣o, that鈥檚 not an excuse.鈥�
This was the remark of former Commission on Elections Chairman Christian Monsod when he was asked in a forum on Friday if the Senate session break is an excuse to delay the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The House of Representatives impeached Duterte last February 5 for violating the 1987 Constitution, graft and corruption, alleged misuse of confidential funds, and betrayal of public trust.
The impeachment complaint reached the Senate on the same day. The Senate adjourned its session, however, on the same day without discussing the Articles of Impeachment.
Monsod, one of the framers of the Constitution, cited Article XI, Section 3, which states that the 鈥渢rial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed鈥� once it receives the verified impeachment complaints.
He then pointed out the definition of 鈥渇orthwith鈥� in the dictionary, which says 鈥渋mmediately.鈥�
Monsod also said that an impeachment should not be treated as a legislative but a special task.
鈥淭hey must proceed immediately. Why? Because the purpose of the provision is to protect the people from the people they have elected who have violated the public trust,鈥� Monsod noted.
鈥淭he purpose is not to punish them. It is to protect the people, and that鈥檚 why it must be interpreted [as] immediately,鈥� he added.
He also emphasized that not protecting the people would be an encouragement to violate the Constitution.
鈥淚 think they鈥檙e giving all kinds of excuses because those excuses are not really reasonable鈥� Of course, there have been so many impeachment charges already. The senators 鈥� they acted as judges in this trial. There are already rules, they just have to clean it up, if they want, or amend [them]. That should not take one month,鈥� Monsod said.
Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero revealed earlier that no impeachment trial could be conducted during the Congress break 鈥渂ecause the impeachment court was not convened.鈥�
Previously, Escudero noted that an ongoing session in the Senate would be needed for an impeachment court to be convened.
In a proposed calendar for the impeachment trial released by the Senate chief, the start of the trial is being eyed for July 30, 2025.