MANILA, Philippines – Para kay Incoming ML Partylist Rep Leila de Lima ay nagkaroon ng paglabag sa 1987 Constitution si Senate President Francis Escudero nang hindi nito agad itakda ang trial ng impeachment ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
Ani de Lima, ang Article XI, Section 3(4) ng Saligang Batas ang siyang nilabag ni Escudero na nagtatakda na “if a verified impeachment complaint is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House (or 102 out of 306 current members), the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed,” paliwang ni de Lima.
Aniya, malinaw ang Konstitusyon na dapat agarang pagtugon sa impeachment ngunit hindi ginawa ng Senado.
“That is clearly violative of what the Constitution says — forthwith is forthwith. And it’s been delayed a few times already. How many times it was postponed?,” ani de Lima kung saan iginiit nito na dapat nang magconvene bilang impeachment court ang Senado.
Una nang itinakda noong Hunyo 2 ang impeachment trial subalit binawi ito ni Escudero at ginawang Hunyo 11 na huling araw na ng sesyon ng Kongreso. Gail Mendoza
