SABI ni dating Solicitor General Florin Hilbay na ang impeachment is not a courtroom exercise reserved for lawyers but a constitutional process of public accountability. Pwedeng hindi abogado ang mag-preside sa impeachment trial. Tama! Sa Saligang Batas nakasaad:
ARTICLE XI SECTION 6
When the President of the Philippines is on trial, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall preside. but shall not vote. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two thirds of all the members of the Senate.
Wala sa Saligang Batas nakasaad kung MALIBAN SA PRESIDENTE ang subject ng impeachment ay sino ang presiding officer. Kahit Senate President hindi nakalagay. So, tama naman si Hilbay na hindi kailangan abogado. Tanging sa PRESIDENTE lang kailangang ang PRESIDING OFFICER ay ABOGADO dahil ang CJ ay abogado.
Pero sa nangyayari sa Senado ngayon na may gulo pa sa issue ng majority at Senate officers, Mas mainam kaya na ang presiding officer sa impeachment ni Vice President Sara Duterte hindi senador at isang justice ng Supreme Court?
Sa mga impeachable officers sa Art XI sec 2 ang President at Bise Presidente lang ang ELECTED. Ang Justices ng Supreme Court, members ng Constitutional Commissions at Ombudsman ay pawang APPOINTED OFFICIALS.
Wala naman ipinagbabawal sa Saligang Batas na ang isang Supreme Court Justice ang magpreside sa impeachment trial since the Vice President is the constitutional successor to the presidency the same standard and degree of objectivity and fairness must apply so as to protect the mandate of the two highest officials of the land. The role of the presiding officer in an impeachment trial is crucial because he or she rules on objections raised by the lawyers and ensures that the proceedings are conducted properly, fairly, and in accordance with the rules.
If the presiding officer is already perceived to have political bias—and let’s be honest, who among politicians is completely free from it? Then what? Clashes and heated disagreements among the senator-judges could be expected. Such a situation could undermine the credibility of the proceedings and further deepen political divisions, especially in a highly controversial impeachment case.
At kahit sabihin pa natin na hindi court setting ang impeachment, ina-adopt pa rin ng Impeachment Court ang RULES OF COURT.
