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House to prepare evidence for VP Sara’s impeach trial
By Nidz Godino
“I advise them to study and prepare evidence so that when trial begins, there won’t be any delays…given time they’ve had, there’s no reason for them not to be ready, and I do not expect them to ask for extension… would be embarrassing if they can’t accomplish that within set timeframe,” Senate President Francis Escudero said instead of pressuring and calling for immediate convening of impeachment court, urged House of Representatives to thoroughly study and prepare evidence against Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, emphasizing he would not entertain any delays once trial begins.
Escudero said House members, who would act as prosecutors in impeachment trial against Duterte, must prepare for systematic presentation of evidence during proceedings.
House of Representatives transmitted impeachment complaint against Vice President to Senate on Feb. 5, two hours before Congress went on recess for midterm elections.
Escudero said Senate would prepare and could tackle the matter only when Congress resumes session on June 2.
Some congressmen and some sectors are calling Senate to immediately commence impeachment trial, could be done once President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.calls special session to allow Senate to convene as impeachment court.
But Escudero said even when Senate resumes sessions on June 2, senators could not hold trial right away as they will still have lot to prepare and they would not be able to discuss anything until 19th Congress closes on June 30.
First, he said they need to adopt permanent impeachment rules, currently being drafted and will be debated in session.
He said they also have to give Duterte time to answer Articles of Impeachment, can be set for 10 days and extension can be requested.
Escudero also lashed out at House of Representatives for pressuring Senate to start impeachment trial, saying Congress is not in right position to do so, as it had sat on complaints for three months.
“Constitution states ‘forthwith,’ and their own rules state ‘immediately’ , secretary-general shall immediately refer any impeachment complaint filed to the Speaker… they delayed three impeachment complaints for more than two months… if they took two months to act, they shouldn’t hold Senate to different standard, before telling us to hurry, they should answer simple questions they didn’t rush themselves…now that complaint is filed, they’re rushing excessively…they have no moral basis to take such position, if we look at past impeachment complaints, we followed recess schedule…our recess, ends on June 2, was agreed upon back in July last year…we are simply adhering to scheduled recess because we have elections, now, I don’t want to treat Vice President Duterte’s impeachment complaint as special just because she’s the vice president, first vice president to be impeached, or because she’s Duterte… her case should be treated the same way Senate has handled previous and other impeachment complaints… shouldn’t receive special treatment…as they say, woman symbolizing justice is blindfolded, meaning she sees nothing and treats everyone equally,” Escudero said.He maintained Senate cannot hold special session on their own while Congress is on recess, noting that they have to observe process.
He also added caucus among senators is not special session that can create impeachment court.
Former Senate president Franklin Drilon has dismissed calls for Escudero to unilaterally convene special session to consider Articles of Impeachment, emphasizing that only President Marcos holds that authority.
“I cannot really understand insistence Senate President can call Senate to special session to consider Articles of Impeachment…only the President can do that,” Drilon said in statement.
He also clarified convening of Senate as impeachment court is not automatic, contrary to certain claims.
“Impeachment process has not yet started; it has only been filed, and impeachment court has not been convened… I’m not saying it’s wrong or right, but I don’t want to make mistake by doing that,” he stressed.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian expressed support for Escudero’s position on impeachment, stressing that “this impeachment cannot be discussed without session.”
“Recent impeachment cases, like those of former president Joseph Estrada, chief justice Renato Corona and ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez, all went through plenary… means it was read in plenary to formally inform everyone, formally communicated to our colleagues that there is such impeachment that has come to our Senate… since this was sent on the last day and at the last hour, it could not be read during session in plenary…therefore, without plenary session and without it being read, impeachment cannot be discussed” he said.
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