Draft reso junking impeachment trial is a ‘mere scrap of paper’ 鈥� Escudero
Senate President Francis Escudero talks with Senator Ronald dela Rosa. Senator Christopher Go is also seen in the background. (Photo from MARIANNE BERMUDEZ and LYN RILLON)
MANILA, Philippines — “A mere scrap of paper.”
This was how Senate President Chiz Escudero described the draft resolution being circulated among senators seeking to stop the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
In an ambush interview on Wednesday, Escudero said no resolutions have been formally filed regarding the matter, which means that the Senate cannot act on it.
“There’s no such resolution filed or pending in the Senate right now. Whatever that’s being circulated has yet to be authored,” said the Senate leader.
“It was only shown to me by the media and it’s what they call a mere scrap of paper unless it gets filed, unless someone authors it, unless it gets debated upon, and unless we vote on it,” he explained.
But if someone files such a resolution, Escudero said they would willingly act on it.
“If someone makes a motion, we will act on it. We will debate on it, and have our votes cast. But if no one files, we will not act on anything. I already said it before,” Escudero repeated.
“The Senate is a deliberate body whose plenary is supreme. Whatever we do, we always vote on it and [there,] it is always asked, ‘Any objection?’ If there’s none, it means all of us are in favor,” he explained.
Former top cop turned lawmaker Sen. Bato dela Rosa confirmed also on Wednesday that the draft resolution seeking the “de facto dismissal” of the impeachment trial against Duterte came from his office.
The measure was initiated by dela Rosa himself.
Apart from dela Rosa’s draft resolution, he said he was able to see three different drafts of resolutions from other senators which seek to also junk the impeachment bid against Duterte./apl
