Sen. Imee Marcos Speaks on SC Ruling over Impeachment Case vs. VP Sara Duterte
IMEE MARCOS – The presidential sister and Senator called for respect for the decision of the Supreme Court over the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The Senate is set to decide today over the Supreme Court ruling on the impeachment case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Ahead of the opening of the 20th Congress, the high court declared the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte as “unconstitutional”.
According to the Court, the impeachment complaint against Duterte did not follow the one-year rule in the Constitution with regards to impeachments. However, the complainants argued that the previous complaints were not referred.
Following the decision of the Supreme Court, there are mixed calls on the Senate — to dismiss the impeachment case, to proceed to the impeachment trial, and to hold off from making a motion while waiting the finality of the Court’s decision.
The Supreme Court ruling is immediately executory but a motion for reconsideration may be filed. Some complainants and the House have already appealed the decision of the high court. The lower chamber also asked the Senate to “exercise prudence and patience” and wait for their appeal.
Recently, several senators have aired their side on the matter. Sen. Risa Hontiveros bared her plan to block all motions that will seek to dismiss the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. According to her, it would be a “premature” move to decide on whether or not to dismiss the case without any evidence being presented.
President sister and Sen. Imee Marcos also recently spoke on the issue. Based on a report on ABS-CBN News, she believes that the Senate must must abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court. According to her, the Senate cannot simply choose which part of the ruling of the high court it will comply with.
“If we subscribe to the view that we should wait the resolution of the [motion for reconsideration], then we would not be respecting the ‘immediately executory’ portion of the decision,” Marcos said.
Furthermore, based on the report, Sen. Imee Marcos expressed her belief that it is allegedly “highly unlikely” for a unanimous decision among the Supreme Court justices to be overturned. The ruling of the high court came with a 13-0 voting from the justices.
“What is the guarantee na hindi mag-MR sina VP Sara? Or even if ma-affirm ang decision, what is the guarantee na walang second MR? Baka by the time ma-resolve lahat ng MRs, lampas na February 6,” Sen. Imee Marcos said.
Aside from Sen. Imee Marcos, another member of the Duterte bloc in the Senate, Sen. Bato dela Rosa, also aired his side on the verdict of the Supreme Court over Duterte’s impeachment case.