MANILA, Philippines- Nais ni Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III na magpatawag si Senate President Francis Escudero ng isang caucus o pulong sa lahat ng miyembro ng Senado upang talakayin ang impeachment trial ni of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Sa press conference, sinabi ni Pimentel na kailangan ang caucus dahil nahati ang atensyon ng kasamahan sa ngayon sanhi ng kampanya para sa 2025 midterm elections.
“Maybe, [ang] attention nila nga nasa iba. That’s why we are now focusing on this matter. So that the Senate President can focus every senator’s attention on this matter, magpatawag na siya ng caucus,” ani Pimentel sa Kapihan sa Senado
“Kausapin ko si SP (Senate President). Sulatan ko pa siya,” aniya.
Sinabi pa ni Pimentel na magbibigay ng opurtunidad ang caucus upang maipaliwanag ng bawat senador ang kanilang posisyon sa impeachment.
Nitong Miyerkules, inulit ni Escudero na magsisimula ang impeachment trial sa pagbubukas ng 20th Congress sa Hulyo.
Bilang tugon, iginiit ni Pimentel na kapag isinagawa ang paglilitis kay VP Sara sa Hulyo, lalabagin nito ang 1987 Constitution.
Tinutukoy ni Pimentel ang Article 11, Section 3.4 ng 1987 Constitution na nagsasabing: “In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.”
“Masyado pong matagal ‘yun kasi from February 5 [na na-ifile ang impeachment complaint]. Halos apat na buwan ‘yun. Hindi na ‘yun compliant sa sinabi ng Constitution na kumilos agad,” paliwanag ni Pimentel.
Aniya, malamang na batikusin ang Senado sa hinaharap kapag hindi nito tinupad ang tungkulin na kaagad simulan ang impeachment trial.
“This will result in unnecessary criticisms against the Senate kasi hindi na sinusunod ‘yung mandato ng Constitution. So [dapat], sunod lang kami. Ang dami naming time. Pwede na ngayong March. Pwede naman na mag-start sa March,” ani Pimentel.
Ipinaliwanag pa niya na walang epekto ang petisyon na inihain ng kampo ni Duterte sa Supreme Court laban sa pagsasagawa ng impeachment trial at ibasura ang impeachment complaint dahil may mandato ang Senado bilang impeachment court na nakaangkal sa matibay na legal na basehan.
“Meron po tayong matibay na legal basis kung kilusan na ng Senate ang impeachment complaint or ang Articles of Impeachment: the Constitution plus the Senate Rules [on impeachment]. Pagbasa mo ng Konstitusyon…the trial in the Senate shall forthwith proceed. That is what the Constitution says,” wika ni Pimentel.
Binanggit pa ni Pimentel ang Rule 10 ng Senate Rules sa Impeachment na nagsasabing: “At 2 o’clock in the afternoon or at such other hour as the Senate may order of the day appointed for the trial of an impeachment, the legislative business of the Senate, if there be any, shall be suspended, etc..”
“Reading that provision, you do not get the impression that [there is a requirement] that the Senate must be in session [to start the impeachment trial]. As long as these rules are not yet amended, what do we follow? Mag-i-imagine [ba] kami na as if amended [na ang rules]. Dito muna tayo sa wording of the existing [rules],” dagdag niya.
“Our position is logical, with legal basis. Yes, we should be cautious [in our actions], but not too cautious kasi sirang-sira na ang meaning the forthwith [kapag ganun]. Normal na salita lang ‘yan [forthwith], ibig sabihin bilisan, without any delay,” giit pa ng senador.
Kabilang sa pitong Articles of Impeachment laban kay Duterte ang mga sumusunod:
1. “Conspiracy to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Marcos, and Speaker Martin Romualdez;
2. Malversation of P612.5 million in confidential funds with questionable liquidation documents;
3. Bribery and corruption in the Department of Education (DepEd) during Duterte’s tenure as Education Secretary, involving former DepEd officials;
4. Unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets in her Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN), with her wealth reportedly increasing fourfold from 2007 to 2017;
5. Involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao City;
6. Destabilization and public disorder efforts, including boycotting the State of the Nation Address (SONA) while declaring herself “designated survivor,” leading rallies calling for Marcos Jr.’s resignation, obstructing congressional investigations, and issuing threats against top officials; and
7. The totality of her conduct as Vice President.” Ernie Reyes
