Senate President Chiz Escudero assured on Saturday that the Senate will not rush the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
According to a 24 Oras Weekend report by Darlene Cay, Escudero stated during a Jesus is Lord gathering that the Senate would handle the trial courageously and impartially.
“Hindi po namin trabaho iconvict siya. Hindi po namin trabahong i-acquit siya. Trabaho po namin, tiyakin na magagawa ang hustisya. Trabaho po namin na maging credible at kapanipaniwala at paniniwalaan ng sambayanan ang kongreso,” Escudero said.
(It is not our job to convict or acquit her. Our job is to ensure that justice is served and that Congress remains credible and trustworthy in the eyes of the public.)
He emphasized that since the articles of impeachment are now in the Senate’s hands, they must fulfill their role as an impeachment court.
The Senate is expected to take up the matter once Congress resumes session on June 2.
“Itinalaga talaga ang prosesong ito para panagutin ang ating mga opisyal. Walang ibang batay at layunin ito. Marapat, ngayon na nasimulan na ito, ay ito ay matapos… Matapos ng hindi minamadali, matapos ng walang labis… Ako po ay walang takot sa ganitong uri ng hamon,” Escudero said.
(This process exists to hold our officials accountable. It has no other basis or purpose. Now that it has begun, it must be completed—without haste, without excess. I do not fear this kind of challenge.)
Special session
Senator Joel Villanueva expressed willingness to attend a special session for the impeachment trial if necessary. However, some senators have already stated that they do not intend to call for one.
“Hindi ako magre-request for a special session, (I will not request for a special session,) but if the President is requesting or a majority of our colleagues want a special session, I have no problem with it. I am willing to comply. Ang nakikita ko lang po kasi, hindi maganda na yung nagfile ng impeachment ang humihingi nito kasi parang biased naman po,” Villanueva said.
(I will not request a special session, but if the President or a majority of my colleagues want one, I have no problem complying. However, if the ones who filed the impeachment request it, that would seem biased.)
Meanwhile, Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua—one of the 11 House prosecutors—urged the Senate to act with urgency.
“Kung babasahin po natin yung Constitution, yung sinasabi po doon, yung impeachment, dapat po pag ito ay tinurn over na o dinala na sa Senado, dapat the Senate ‘shall forthwith’… The fact na ang ginamit po ay ‘shall,’ ibig sabihin mandatory. The fact na ang ginamit na word ay ‘fortwith,’ ibig sabihin dapat sa lalong madaling panahon. Ang interpretation lamang diyan, ano ang lalong madaling panahon?” Chua said.
(If we read the Constitution, it states that once impeachment is turned over to the Senate, it ‘shall forthwith’ proceed. The word ‘shall’ makes it mandatory, and ‘forthwith’ means as soon as possible. The question is: what does ‘as soon as possible’ mean?) — Jiselle Anne Casucian/DVM, GMA Integrated News
