By Brian Campued
As the Senate on Monday reconvened for the final six session days of the 19th Congress, senators clashed over whether the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte could extend to the next Congress after Senate President Francis Escudero moved the June 2 presentation of the Articles of Impeachment to June 11.
During the plenary session, Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino said that if the Senate, as the impeachment court, will not be able to finish the trial by June 30, the impeachment case of the Vice President will be declared “functionally dismissed”.
Tolentino asserted that the 20th Congress cannot try the impeachment case “for lack of constitutional authority.”
“Allowing the 20th Congress to take over this trial would be ultra vires or beyond our constitutional power… Kahit anong pilit, hindi maitatawid—lalo na’t kung lalabag sa Saligang Batas,” the senator said.
On the other hand, the minority bloc maintained that the Senate may continue with the trial even with the 19th Congress nearing adjournment as the impeachment is not a legislative function of the Senate.
According to Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, “conducting impeachment trials is most definitely not a legislative function.”
Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros also argued that with the receipt of the Articles of Impeachment from the House of Representatives, “trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.”
“Hahatulan tayo ng sambayanan kung hindi natin ginampanan ang tungkuling ito sa kanila,” Hontiveros said, warning that the Filipino people will hold the chamber accountable for its decision.
Meanwhile, Escudero reaffirmed that the Senate plenary will ultimately decide on all matters concerning the impeachment trial of Duterte.
The Senate President said, “The plenary is the supreme body of the Senate. It gets to decide anything and everything although at first instance, it can be decided by the Senate President but ultimately, it will have to be confirmed and affirmed or rejected for that matter by plenary.”
Once the Articles of Impeachment have been officially presented to the Senate on June 11, the plenary shall decide on the next steps in the impeachment process.
“Doon din namin pagpapasyahan kung ano mang mga motion kung mayroon mang gagawin, ano mang mga objection kung meron man, ano mang tanong kung meron man. Ang dulo no’n ay magco-convene ang impeachment court kung ’yan ang magiging pasya ng Senado at iiisyu ’yong summons sang-ayon sa ating rules para bigyan ng panahong sumagot ang Vice President.” (with report from Daniel Manalastas / PTV News)
-jpv
