Estrada on Sara Duterte impeachment trial: Senate won’t abandon duty
Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada on Friday dismissed rumors that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will no longer push through, saying the Senate will not abandon its constitutional duty.
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Estrada was reacting to former Sen. Leila de Lima’s statement that she had heard rumors that the impeachment trial would no longer move forward and was deemed “dead on arrival” due to the anticipated lack of votes.
“Even the president seems to want to show that he has no involvement or desire for this to proceed. But the question is clear: will we follow the process, or turn our backs on it out of fear or political calculation? The Constitution lays out a path for accountability. It begins with the filing of the complaint, moves to the House for deliberation and action, and proceeds to trial in the Senate. Each step exists for one reason: to uncover the truth. I have been invited to join the prosecution panel,” De Lima said in Filipino.
However, Estrada dismissed it as a “grandstanding” act.
“That’s just grandstanding. She always believes in rumors. And we are not going to abandon our constitutional duty to hear the impeachment case against the Vice President,” he said.
Earlier, Senate President Francis Escudero moved the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte from June 2 to June 11.
In a statement on Thursday, Escudero said the schedule change was made “to allow the Senate to tackle priority legislative measures before the 19th Congress adjourns.”
READ: Presentation of impeachment articles vs Sara Duterte moved to June 11
READ: Escudero: If Sara Duterte is impeached, President will nominate VP
Can the Senate handle priority bills at the same time as an impeachment trial? Estrada believes it’s possible.
“The impeachment is still a priority. That is our functional responsibility as the Senate to act as an impeachment court. But as I said, the primary mandate of the Senate is to craft and legislate bills that will, of course, be down to the benefit of our people,” he explained./mcm
