Former Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez has questioned the Senate鈥檚 apparent hesitation to start the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, whom he said is ready to face the proceedings. 好色先生TV file photo / Noy Morcoso
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Former Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez has questioned the Senate鈥檚 apparent hesitation to start the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, whom he said is ready to face the proceedings.
Gutierrez, in a statement on Monday, said he is confused over what the Senate is waiting for when Duterte, who was impeached by the House of Representatives last February 5, has welcomed the conduct of the trial against her.
鈥淜ung si Vice President Sara na ang nagsabi na she welcomes the trial at ready na daw siya to face the accusations, so what is the Senate waiting for?鈥� Gutierrez, who was also the former spokesperson for Vice President Leni Robredo, asked.
(If Vice President Sara herself has said that she welcomes the trial and she is ready to face the accusations, so what is the Senate waiting for?)
鈥淲hen the Constitution, the people, and the Vice President herself all say the trial must happen, the Senate has no right to stall or derail the process,鈥� he added.
Senate President Francis Escudero initially sent a letter to House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, inviting the prosecution team to present the articles of impeachment before the Senate plenary on June 2.
READ: Presentation of impeachment articles vs Sara Duterte moved to June 11听
However, Escudero last Thursday sent another letter to Romualdez stating that the presentation of the articles has been rescheduled to June 11, raising fresh concerns that the Senate has allowed the delay of the impeachment proceedings.
Former Sen. Leila de Lima said this effectively violates the 1987 Constitution as Article XI, Section 3(4) of the Constitution states that a verified impeachment complaint 鈥渇iled by at least one-third of all the Members of the House鈥� shall prompt the Senate to initiate a trial immediately.
READ: New delay in Sara Duterte impeachment trial raises concerns
Duterte, meanwhile, said over the weekend that she agrees with an overwhelming majority of Filipinos who believe that she should be tried by an impeachment court for corruption and other high crimes.
鈥淥h, I totally agree,鈥� Duterte said when asked about the results of a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll showing that she should be tried by the Senate.
鈥淚鈥檓 among those 88 percent who say that,鈥� she added. 鈥淚鈥檓 thankful for the opportunity to clear my name and answer the accusations against me.鈥�
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Earlier, Escudero held a press conference regarding the updates to the impeachment proceedings, saying that the 19th Congress 鈥渃annot bind鈥� the subsequent Congress regarding its next moves.
Escudero said the 20th Congress may need to reconvene as an impeachment court and decide on its own in terms.听 The Senate chief then clarified that he is not saying that there would be no trial, but that the next Congress has leeway to decide on the matters related to Duterte鈥檚 impeachment trial.
READ: Fate of Sara Duterte impeachment trial up to Senate plenary 鈥� Escudero
However, Gutierrez believes the Senate鈥檚 inaction is an affront to both the Constitution and the Filipino people, as the Constitution explicitly states that the trial should start forthwith if over one-third of House members sign the verified complaint.
A total of 215 House members filed the impeachment case against Duterte.
鈥淭he Constitution mandates that after the House passes the Articles of Impeachment, the Senate shall forthwith proceed with the trial,鈥� Gutierrez said. 鈥淗indi po ito isang suggestion, ito ay constitutional obligation (This is not a suggestion, but a constitutional obligation).鈥�
鈥淗indi 鈥榦ptional鈥� sa Senado ang impeachment trial. Harapang lokohan na ito kung ito nga ang plano,鈥� Gutierrez said. 鈥淭he Senate is not above the Constitution.听 Delaying justice is denying justice. And in this case, it would be a betrayal of the people鈥檚 right to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.鈥�
(The impeachment trial is not optional for the Senate. If that is the plan, then that鈥檚 blatant deception.)
Last February 5, Vice President Duterte was impeached based on allegations of the misuse of confidential funds (CF) lodged in her offices, and threats she made to high-ranking officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and House Speaker Romualdez.
The fourth complaint was a combination of the first three impeachment raps filed by groups, which included findings of the House committee on good government and public accountability, which showed issues with the CF expenditures./coa