MANILA – Senate President Francis Escudero on Thursday ruled out conducting an impeachment trial on Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio during the session break.
According to Escudero, an impeachment court can only be convened in a plenary session, citing the Senate rules that the Senate President shall take proper order of the subject of impeachment.
“Ibig sabihin nun isaayos muna ng Senate President ang Senado para sa pag-conduct ng pagdinig o trial,” Escudero said. “Para mag-convene ang impeachment court, dapat 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 [Renato] Corona, dapat ito ay masimulan, ma-convene, at mapanumpa ang mga judges kapag may session,” he added.
Escudero further said that, since the impeachment court was not convened during the last day of session on Wednesday, they might begin the trial after the resumption of session on June 2.
“Kung may mangyayari mang aksyon o kaganapan kaugnay nito, yan ay mangyayari sa June 2 pag-resume ng Senado, matapos ang eleksyon at pasya yan ng mayorya ng Senado kung aamyendahan ba yung rules, ano ang ilalagay sa rules,” he said.
Although the impeachment court has not yet assembled, Escudero stated that they can initiate the review of all procedures associated with the process, including the reassessment of the impeachment rules, emphasizing the necessity for updates in this area.
Furthermore, Escudero pointed out that it is unreasonable to anticipate their action on the Articles of Impeachment, as they require time to scrutinize the documents, especially the signatures of the congressmen who supported the complaint.
“Kung nagpabanjing-banjing sila gawin ito, siguro wala naman silang basehan ngayon na madaliin kami, lalo na nasa huling araw na ng sesyon yan pinadala sa amin, halos mag-a-alas singko pa ng hapon,” he said.
According to the verified complaint approved by the House plenary, the complainants moved to impeach Duterte “based on the grounds of Culpable Violation of the Constitution, Betrayal of Public Trust, Graft and Corruption, and Other High Crimes.”
The endorsers numbered 215, exceeding the required one-third of House membership for the complaint to go straight to the Senate as provided in the 1987 Constitution./PN
