This is what Senator Tito Sotto said after the impeachment court came up with a decision.
VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial was returned to the House of Representatives, and Senator-elect Tito Sotto has this statement.
After months of waiting, the impeachment court, the Senate, has voted to return the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. In the motion filed by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano that amended the motion of Senator Bato Dela Rosa, 18 senators voted in favor of it and 5 voted against it.
The five senators who voted against this were Koko Pimentel, Risa Hontiveros, Nancy Binay, Grace Poe, and Sherwin Gatchalian. Those who were in favor were Senators Cayetano, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Bong Revilla, Imee Marcos, JV Ejercito, Bong Go, Loren Legarda, Robinhood Padilla, Jinggoy Estrada, Francis Tolentino, Joel Villanueva, Pia Cayetano, Lito Lapid, Cynthia Villar, Mark Villar, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Raffy Tulfo, and Chiz Escudero.
Senate Chiz Escudero explained the decision, and according to him, the impeachment court presiding officer, there was no intention to dismiss the case. The Senate even summoned Duterte to respond.
Senator-elect Tito Sotto, who will be joining the 20th Congress, expressed that the senator-judges should not have introduced motions. As a judge, filing a motion must not be done, as this would make one look like counsel of either the defense or the prosecution.
He said that not filing motions would maintain neutrality and impartiality, and added during an interview with DZMM, “Judge ka e. Ang itsura mo doon you are acting as a counsel for either the defense or the prosecution.”
Meanwhile, as per the presiding officer, there was no rule barring senator-judges from filing motions in the impeachment court.
In the 20th Congress, Sotto stated that they would follow the rules and procedures. He added, “For example, pinapanood ko sila, kung sino-sinong nagtataas ng kamay. Nire-recognize naman ng Senate President. Hindi ganoon. Yung majority leader ang nagsasabi kung sinong ire-recognize, kaya nga majority floor leader yun e. Doon sa mga hindi sumusunod sa rules saka parliamentary procedures ng Senado ngayon, mahiya naman kayo.”
What can you say about this? Let us know in the comments!