Senator-elect Bam Aquino Breaks Silence on Duterte’s Impeachment Trial
BAM AQUINO – The Senator-elect maintained that he is ready to be a senator-judge in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero recently took his oath as the presiding officer in the impeachment trial against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. It came after the Senate Minority took a move to request for the opening of the impeachment trial.
The request of the Senate Minority came amid the calls on the upper chamber to immediately start the impeachment trial after the initial schedule was postponed. Initially, Escudero set the presentation of the articles of impeachment on June 2 but he later moved it to June 11.
The decision of the Senate President earned him criticisms. There are also accusations that the move is allegedly unconstitutional. Former Sen. Leila de Lima who claimed that Escudero allegedly violated the Constitution stressed that “forthwith is forthwith”.
Following the Senate President taking his oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court in the trial of Vice Pres. Duterte, he maintained that the impeachment trial will start in the 20th Congress. According to him, there is no more time for it in the 19th Congress which will end this June 30.
In the 20th Congress, the set of senators will be different. Senator-elect Bam Aquino will join the lawmakers in the 20th Congress after clinching in the second spot of the May 2025 Senatorial Elections.
Recently, senator-elect Bam Aquino broke his silence over Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial. Based on a post on Inquirer, Aquino highlighted the importance of abiding by the rules under the Philippine Constitution. He stressed that, as an institution, the Senate should investigate and issued a verdict to show that the laws are still above the people.
“Mahalagang masunod ang mga alituntunin ng ating Saligang Batas pagdating sa impeachment. Tungkulin ng Senado bilang institusyon na litisin ang kaso at maglabas ng hatol. Ipapakita ng prosesong ito na nakahihigit pa rin ang ating mga batas,” senator-elect Bam Aquino said.
Based on the post, Aquino also expressed his readiness to be a senator-judge in the impeachment trial of Duterte. He stressed that the 20th Congress must fulfill its duties.
“Handa tayong gampanan ang tungkulin at responsibilidad bilang senator-judge. Binibigyan natin ng karampatang parliamentary courtesy ang 19th Congress sa mga huli nitong araw, pero malinaw na ang 20th Congress ang kinakailangang gumawa ng nararapat nitong tungkulin,” he expressed.
Recently, after taking the oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero claimed that the Senate is not at fault over the impeachment trial’s delay.