Former Sen. Leila de Lima Reacts To Postponing of Impeachment Process vs. VP Sara Duterte
LEILA DE LIMA – The ML party-list Representative claimed that Senate President Chiz Escudero committed a violation against the Constitution with the delay in the impeachment process against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
The impeachment trial proceedings against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte was moved from June 2 to June 11. According to Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero, the upper chamber and the House of Representatives will prioritize the legislative agenda amid the nearing end of the 19th Congress.
Escudero stressed that they still have several measures to pass before the 19th Congress adjourns on June 14. The Senate Chief also claimed that the Commission on Appointments also have more than 200 presidential appointments to review.
According to the Senate President, whether the presentation of the articles of impeachment will be held on June 2 or June 11, the farthest that the Senate can do in the 19th Congress is the issuance of summons to Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. She will be given 10 days to respond and, by that time, the 19th Congress has adjourned.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero also said that even if the impeachment court convenes, the decision of the 20th Congress is not bound under the decision of the previous Congress. The change in the schedule of the impeachment process sparked different speculations including the view that there might be no trial that is happening.
One of those who reacted to the changes over the impeachment process against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is ML party-list Representative Leila de Lima. The former Senator is one of those who committed to being part of the prosecution team against Duterte.
Based on a report on Inquirer, congresswoman-elect Leila de Lima affirmed that the decision of Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero to move the impeachment process is against the Article XI of the Constitution which speaks on impeachment proceedings.
According to the report, the said provision in the Constitution states that if a verified impeachment complaint is “filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House (or 102 out of 306 current members), the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.”
“Yes, yes, that’s always been my position, that is clearly violative of what the Constitution says — forthwith is forthwith. And it’s been delayed a few times already. How many times it was postponed?” the former Senator said.
Based on the report, De Lima further claimed that the Senate and the House of Representatives are allegedly blaming each other now. The former Senator and staunch critic of the Duterte administration said Escudero claimed that the House was also late in transmitting the complaint.
“But what is clear that under the Constitution, for me, the impeachment trial at this stage, which will be convening of the impeachment court and also proceeding with the impeachment trial, is not optional,” De Lima said.
The Vice President is currently in The Hague to visit her father, former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte. Vice Pres. Sara Duterte was asked about Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero postponing the impeachment process.