MANILA, Philippines- Naghain ng isang panukalang resolusyon si Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino na naglalayong katigan ng Senado ang panukalang 19-day calendar upang isagawa ang impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
Sa ilalim ng Senate Resolution No. 1367, sinabi ni Tolentino na kailangang tumakbo ang impeachment trial alinsunod sa panukalang kalendaryo upang maitaguyod ang due process at tiyakin na sapat ang panahon sa resolusyon ng impeachment case:
June 11: Constitution of the impeachment court
June 11-21: Submission of answer by Vice President Sara Duterte (10 days)
June 22: Reply of prosecutors
June 23: Submission of trial briefs (morning); Opening statements (afternoon)
June 24-25: Presentation of evidence by prosecution
June 25-26: Presentation of evidence by defense
June 27: Rebuttal by prosecution (morning); Rebuttal by defense (afternoon)
June 28: Oral arguments (1 hour each for defense and prosecution)
June 29: Closed-door meeting of senator-judges
June 30: Rendition of verdict
Sinabi ni Tolentino na mahagalang pagtibayin ang pinabilis na trial calendar upang mapagbigyan ang magkabilang panig ng isang “full and fair opportunity to articulate their respective positions and to ensure the resolution of the case” bago magtapos ang 19th Congress sa June 30.
“[T]he adoption of said calendar enables the Senate to resolve the trial within the term of the Nineteenth Congress, thereby avoiding the unresolved and constitutionally precarious implications of allowing such proceedings to extend to the next Congress,” ayon sa resolution.
Nitong Lunes ng gabi, nanumpa si Senate President Francis Escudero bilang presiding officer ng impeachment court sa paglilitis kay Duterte.
Pinagtibay din ng Senado ang mosyon ni Senador Joel Villanueva na manumpa ang nalalabing senator-judges sa impeachment trial dakong alas-4 ng hapon ngayong Martes.
Pagkatapos manumpa ng senator-judges, lilikhain na ang korte pero hindi muna magtitipon na inaprubahan ng mayorya.
Inaprubahan din ng Senado ang mosyon na i-refer ang verified impeachment complaint laban kay Duterte sa committee on rules.
Pinatalsik si Duterte ng House of Representatives noong February 5, na may mahigit 200 lawmakers ang nag-endorso sa verified complaint sa kasong betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, at iba pang high crimes. Ernie Reyes
