No impeachment trial against Sara Duterte during Congress break—Escudero
The impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte will have to wait until Congress ends its break, according to Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero.
During the Kapihan sa Senado forum, Escudero was asked why the Senate went on break on Feb. 5 without tackling Duterte's verified impeachment complaint, which was transmitted to them by the House of the Representatives.
"Una, 'yun 'yung schedule namin. Huling araw namin kahapon, magbebreak talaga kami at magreresume matapos ang halalan sa June 2. Walang rason para magbago o baguhin 'yun kahapon," he explained.
"Hindi pa naman officially informed ang Senado, ang plenaryo, kaugnay sa paghahain ng impeachment complaint dahil dadaan pa ito sa isang proseso sang-ayon sa rules and practice at procedure ng Senado kaugnay ng mga impeachment complaints," he added.
Escudero stressed that no discussions happened between the lawmakers in relation to the case before they adjourned.
He went on to address claims that the Senate needs to "immediately" proceed with the trial. Citing the past impeachment cases of former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez and former Chief Justice Renato Corona, he clarified that he must prepare the upper house first to conduct the trial, which could take time.
"Mahigit dalawang buwan inupuan, pinag-aralan, binasa, tinignan ng Kamara 'yung mga impeachment complaint na nakabinbin. Mahigit dalawang buwan hindi finorward ng Secretary General ang impeachment complaint sa tanggapan ng Speaker para irefer sa plenary at sa Committee on Justice," Escudero said.
"Gagampanan namin ang aming tungkulin na pwedeng magawa habang recess kabilang na ang pag-review ng rules ng Senado sa impeachment," he assured. "Kailangan pa ring pag-aralan ng Secretary General ng Senado 'yung impeachment complaint mismo."
Despite a past instance where the Senate was able to conduct the impeachment trial after Congress was adjourned, Escudero said that the trial must have started while Congress was still in session, where the impeachment court had a chance to convene.
"Para mag-convene ang impeachment court, kailangan may sesyon ang Senado. Para manumpa ang impeachment judges, kailangan may sesyon ang Senado. Bagaman ang trial pwedeng mag-proceed kahit na recess, tulad ng nangyari kay dating at yumaong Chief Justice Corona, dapat ito ay masimulan, ma-convene, at mapanumpa ang mga judges kapag may session," he said.
Duterte was formally impeached by the House of Representatives on Feb. 5 after 215 lawmakers have voted to impeach Duterte.
The total membership of the House is 306, which means that at least 102 signatures, or one-third of the lower legislative chamber, are needed for the case to go up to the Senate for trial.
Seven articles of impeachment were listed in the complaint including committing betrayal of public trust, committing culpable violation of the Constitution and/or committing high crimes in plotting to assassinate Marcos, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Romualdez; misuse and malversation of confidential funds appropriated to the Office of the Vice President and Department of Education; committed bribery and/or other acts of graft and corruption; amassing unexplained wealth and failing to disclose all her properties in her Statements of Assets and Net Worth (SALN); committing high crimes including murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with her involvement in extrajudicial killings of the Davao Death Squad; committing acts of destabilization; and the totality of her conduct.
