MANILA, Philippines – Maaaring magtipon bilang impeachment court ang Senado sa Miyerkules, Mayo 13, kapag naipadala na sa Mataas na Kapulungan ang Articles of Impeachment laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte, ayon kay Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.
Sa isang panayam sa radyo nitong Linggo, Mayo 10, sinabi ni Gatchalian na inaasahang ipapasa ng House of Representatives ang reklamo sa Senado sa Martes, Mayo 12, matapos ang botohan nito sa Lunes.
“I expect it to be transmitted to us on Tuesday and based on SP’s (Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto) statements, the impeachment court will be convened on Wednesday,” ani Gatchalian.
Dagdag niya, nararapat lamang na kumilos ang Senado “forthwith” o agad-agad matapos matanggap ang Articles of Impeachment, bagama’t binanggit niya na may desisyon na ang Korte Suprema na nagbibigay ng diskresyon sa Senado sa interpretasyon ng salitang “forthwith.”
“As long as it is within reasonable grounds. So it is up to the body’s discretion whether they want it immediately or if there are reasonable grounds,” aniya.
Ayon kay Gatchalian, handa ang Senado para sa paglilitis batay sa karanasan nito sa 19th Congress.
“We already had a preview during the 19th Congress. That’s why there was a remand, right? If you remember, the Articles of Impeachment were remanded,” aniya.
Giit niya, malinaw sa Saligang Batas na dapat ituloy ang paglilitis kapag naipasa na ang Articles of Impeachment.
“Now if you ask me, it’s very clear in the Constitution to try forthwith… But we need to try because that’s very clear in our Constitution,” dagdag niya.
Una nang sinabi ni Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III na awtomatikong magtitipon ang Senado bilang impeachment court sa sandaling matanggap ang Articles of Impeachment, at ito ay tungkulin ayon sa Konstitusyon “no matter what others may say.”
“Based on the Constitution, it’s automatic. That’s our job. No matter what others say, what matters is what the Constitution says: When Articles of Impeachment are received, we convene as an impeachment court,” ani Sotto.
Dagdag niya, handa ang Senado kahit may tumutol: “Let’s follow the Constitution… That is part of our job.” RNT
