MANILA, Philippines – Inihayag ni Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano nitong Martes na napagpasyahan ng Senate impeachment court na 16 na boto ang kailangan upang mahatulan si Vice President Sara Duterte dahil walang senador-judge na kumuwestiyon sa naging pasya sa unang araw ng impeachment trial.
Sa pahayag, ibinahagi ni Cayetano ang paglilinaw sa ikalawang araw ng impeachment trial nitong July 7 matapos itanong ni Senator-judge Panfilo Lacson kung ilang boto ang kinakailangan upang mahatulan ang Vice President.
Tumugon si Presiding Officer Francis Escudero na ang kanyang pahayag noong Lunes ay naging opisyal nang pasiya ng impeachment court dahil walang senador-judge na tumutol o umapela rito.
Ayon kay Cayetano, ito rin ang kanyang naging pag-unawa sa naging desisyon ng impeachment court.
Aniya, nilinaw pa niya noong unang araw ng paglilitis kung ang sinabi ni Escudero ay personal na opinyon lamang o opisyal na pasya ng korte.
“I clarified whether that was the opinion of the elected presiding officer Senator Escudero. If it’s the ruling of the court, then as a threshold issue, we will have no further questions,” sabi ni Cayetano.
Gayunman, sinabi niyang may isa pang mahalagang usapin na dapat pagpasiyahan ng impeachment court at iyon ay kung papayagang makaboto sina Senator Rodante Marcoleta at Jinggoy Estrada.
“It is in that spirit that we ask and we’re preparing maybe a memoranda for all members to allow Senator Marcoleta and Senator Jinggoy since they are going to have a vote,” aniya.
“If they are not allowed to vote, then that will be counted as a vote for acquittal. And that might be favorable to the defense rather than a part of giving a fair trial,” dagdag niya.
Sinabi rin ni Cayetano na maaari pang talakayin ng impeachment court ang iba pang mga usaping may kaugnayan sa Konstitusyon habang nagpapatuloy ang paglilitis.
“As of today it is very clear that as a court, we have decided that two-thirds of 24. There are 24 members of the Senate today. Twenty are present here today, but there are still 24 members and 16 ang number of senators needed to convict on any of the articles,” ani Cayetano. Ernie Reyes
