Former Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile Speaks on Recent Developments in Upper Chamber
JUAN PONCE ENRILE – The former Senate President spoke his side on the recent developments in the upper chamber.
Countless people were surprised when the Senate ruled for the return of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. It came after a series of acts that also left question on many people on the chances that the trial will push through.
The Senate was previously questioned over the alleged delay in the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Duterte. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero maintained that the Senate was on a session break then and they follow a legislative calendar.
However, the schedule for the opening of Duterte’s impeachment trial being moved triggered the “no trial scenario” speculations. In the first week of June, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero took his oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court in the trial of Duterte after the Senate Minority took a move to request the start of the trial.
The oath-taking of the presiding officer was followed by the rest of the senators taking their oath as senator judges. However, shortly after, they decided on a motion to remand the Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives.
With the 18-5 voting outcome, the Senate impeachment court approved the return of Duterte’s impeachment to the House. Here are the senator judges who voted in favor and against the motion:
YES
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Pia Cayetano
- Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
- JV Ejercito
- Chiz Escudero
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Bong Go
- Lito Lapid
- Loren Legarda
- Imee Marcos
- Robin Padilla
- Bong Revilla
- Francis Tolentino
- Raffy Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
- Cynthia Villar
- Mark Villar
- Juan Miguel Zubiri
NO
- Koko Pimentel
- Risa Hontiveros
- Sherwin Gatchalian
- Grace Poe
- Nancy Binay
Following the recent developments, some former senators made their reactions. Former Senate Pres. Tito Sotto who is set to join the 20th Congress said he learned from the late former Sen. Miriam Santiago that senator judges should not introduce motions. According to him, senator judges must only ask and seek clarifications.
Sotto advised the senator judges to study the records of the previous impeachment trials. Recently, another former Senate President, Juan Ponce Enrile, also expressed his hope that the newbie senators will study to know their job.
In an interview with Inquirer, former Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile said that most of the people in the Senate are his friends, Thus, he admitted that he is sad considering the recent developments in the upper chamber.
“Nalulungkot ako dahil karamihan nitong mga nasa Senado ngayon, marami sa kanila, mga kaibigan ko,” Enrile said.
Based on the post, former Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile also expressed his hope that newbie senators will study so they will know their job. He was the president of the Senate from 2008 to 2023. He was the presiding officer of the impeachment court in the trial of former Chief Justice Renato Corona. He was also a senator judge in the impeachment trial of former Pres. Joseph Estrada.
“Pero ‘yung mga bago na, dapat mag-aral naman sila sana at malaman nila kung ano talaga ang ibig sabihin nitong trabaho na [pinasok nila], na dapat nilang sundin,” the former Senate President said.
On the recent developments in the Senate, former Senate Pres. Juan Ponce Enrile stressed that the Constitution stated “forthwith” and the Senate allegedly cannot order the House as they are co-equal.