MANILA, Philippines – Kaagad na pupulungin ni Senate President Vicente Sotto III ang impeachment court upang simulant ang paglilitis sa akusasyon ng katiwalian laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte sakaling opisyal na makasakamay ng Senado ang Articles of Impeachment.
Sa panayam, matapos ang majority senators’ caucus sa Senado, sinabi ni Sotto na sakaling matanggap ng Senado ang Articles of Impeachment laban kay Duterte, pupulungin kaagad ang impeachment court, kinabukasan.
“The following day, pupulungin kaagad ang impeachment court,” ayon kay Sotto.
Nilinaw din ni Sotto na walang kinalaman ang desisyon ng Supreme Court sa kahulugan ng “forthwith” na puwedeng gawin agad-agad o mas mahabang panahon depende sa kaso o sitwasyon na hawak ng Senado.
“I think the Supreme Court decision is based on the petition. Hindi naman sumasaklaw yung decision niyan sa trabaho ng Senado. Does not have anything to do with the work of the Senate, we are co-equal of branch, that’s why tama yung decision nila. Pero as far as that petition that was filed to them is concerned, not on the way the Senate is conducting itself,” ayon kay Sotto.
“And in this case, if ever we receive the articles of impeachment, we will act on it forthwith. Sa akin ang forthwith, the following day,” giit pa niya.
Sinabi pa ni Sotto na pinag-usapan sa caucus na may kinatawan ng minorya, ang lahat ng posibilidad na mangyayari kapag natanggap ng Senado ang Articles of Impeachment laban kay Duterte.
“Pinagusapan na namin yung mga possibilities, if we ever do receive the articles of impeachment, then we discuss the preparations that we need to do. May member naman ng minority na present, he is asked to relay to other members of minority yung suggestions,” paliwanag ng lider ng Senado.
Pero, aniya, depende ang lahat ng suggestions at preparasyon at posibilidad sa timing kung makakarating sa Senado ang Articles of Impeachment.
“If it does, then we will have to sit down officially to do that. Pati yung schedule na sinasabi namin na probabilities,” ayon kay Sotto.
Aniya, wala pang schedule. “Wala pa. As soon as we receive it, then that’s the time we will officially decide on what to do with the timing. Definitely there’s one thing for sure, once we receive it we will convene the valedictorian as an impeachment court if we do receive it.” Ernie Reyes
