Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Speaks on Impeachment Court, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s Case
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The Senate President affirmed that the impeachment court can junk the case of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte even without a trial.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte said in her response to the Senate impeachment court that the case against her “must be dismissed”. The Vice President insisted the alleged unconstitutionality of her impeachment. Her response came after her previous claim that the congressmen were allegedly promised something in exchange of their signature in the impeachment document.
The Senate impeachment court remanded the Articles of Impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. Eighteen (18) senator judges supported the motion to return Duterte’s impeachment to the House for clarification of its constitutionality as well as to seek a reconfirmation from the 20th Congress.
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
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero clarified that the return of Duterte’s impeachment does not mean a dismissal or termination of the impeachment case against the Vice President. To prove it, the Senate impeachment court sent summons to the Vice President.
The decision of the Senate impeachment earned different reactions. Former Senate president Tito Sotto claimed that senator judges should not make a motion. Former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile who has participated in two (2) impeachment trials before asserted that “forthwith” is clear in the Constitution.
Senate Minority Leader Koko Panel also stressed that there is no concept of return in the legal process. Sen. Risa Hontiveros also said that remand is not in the Constitution. Despite the different reactions, Escudero stressed that there is no limitation as to which the Senate impeachment court will decide on.
Recently, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero also confirmed that the Senate impeachment court can dismiss the impeachment case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte by a simple majority vote. Based on a report on Inquirer, he was also asked if the Senate impeachment court can dismiss the case based on the response of the Vice President to the summons:
“That’s possible, but I don’t wanna go ahead on what the impeachment court’s decision would be,” the Senate President said.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero stressed that simple majority is needed in all voting. Based on the report, the Senate Chief was also asked if it is possible for an impeachment case to be dismissed without going through a formal trial.
“Everything is possible,” he said.
According to the Senate President, any member of the impeachment court may also file a motion to convict Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and it will also be decided through a vote. However, he clarified that he will not vote for it.
“I cannot prevent that from happening, but I will not vote for that. All motions are allowed. Don’t focus on the motion to dismiss because the motion to convict is also allowed,” the Senate President said.
Amid the speculations and the belief of Duterte’s camp that the Marcos administration allegedly wants the Vice President out, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte doubts the claim of Pres. Bongbong Marcos that he has no role in the impeachment process.