MANILA, Philippines – Lantarang sinopla ni Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero si House Deputy Majority Leader Paolo Ortega hinggil sa prosesong ipinaiiral ng Senado hinggil sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
Base sa pahayag ni Ortega na kung puwedeng magsagawa ng imbestigasyon at pagdinig ang Senado sa usaping lehislatibo tulad ng pagkalkal ng pag-aresto kay dating Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, maaari naman silang simulant ang impeachment trial.
“If the Senate can convene during recess to discuss other matters, then it should also be ready to deliberate on the impeachment case against the Vice President,” ayon kay Ortega.
Naunang sinabi ni Escudero, kailangan may sesyon ang Kongreso bago buuin ang Senate impeachment court.
“Kung may oras para sa ibang isyu kahit naka-recess, bakit hindi pagtuunan ng pansin ang isang usaping may malalim na epekto sa ating bansa? Ang Senado ang may mandato bilang impeachment court, at inaasahan natin na gagampanan nila ito nang walang pag-aalinlangan,” ayon kay Ortega.
Bilang tugon, sinabi ni Escudero na dapat may sesyon ang Senado bago buuin ang impeachment court, kundi masasabotahe ang reklamo laban kay Duterte.
“Congressman Ortega should study more regarding the difference between motu proprio hearings that can be done when Congress is not in session and impeachment proceedings that cannot be commenced during recess,” paliwanag ni Escudero.
“Unless, of course, he wants to sabotage their own impeachment case by adding yet another ground for the opposing party to question the proceedings by persisting on his, at best, shaky legal theory that impeachment can be commenced when the Senate is not in session,” dagdag niya.
Binanggit din ni Escudero na hindi salungat si Speaker at Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, a lawyer na tula niya, sa Senate timeline para sa impeachment trial na magsisimula sa July 30.
“Perhaps he may also want to get clearer signals from the Speaker who is quite satisfied and has never questioned the Senate’s actions, preparations and preparedness,” ayon kay Escudero.
“Again, may I advise him and his other co-prosecutors to instead make the most out of this period and study/build their case because when we start, we will not allow any delays whatsoever,” dagdag niya.
Inaprubahan ng Mababang Kapulungan si Vice President Duterte noong Pebrero 5 sa kasong betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption at iba pang high crimes.
Umabot sa 215 ang House members na lumagda sa impeachment complaint. Ernie Reyes
