Senate President Criticizes House Prosecutors’ Stubbornness
MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero voiced concerns over the persistent stubbornness of the House prosecutors involved in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. He highlighted how this behavior complicates the process, especially when the prosecutors are the very ones eager to push the case forward.
Escudero emphasized the House prosecutors’ stubbornness during a recent press conference, noting that despite repeated orders from the impeachment court, the prosecutors have resisted complying fully. “I don’t want to jump the gun. Given how stubborn they are, since they won’t even accept the pleading, I wouldn’t be surprised if they will actually do that,” he said.
He pointed out how the prosecutors have made it difficult to accept submissions such as the pleading, the answer, and even the appearance of the accused. “Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised anymore,” Escudero added.
Challenges in Impeachment Court Proceedings
The Senate President was referring to the House prosecutors’ possible failure to comply with the impeachment court’s second order. This order requires the House of Representatives of the 20th Congress to formally communicate its willingness to pursue the impeachment case against Duterte.
The first order involved certifying that the House did not violate the one-year rule for filing impeachment complaints. However, compliance with these orders has been complicated by the prosecutors’ resistance.
Escudero expressed bewilderment over the prosecutors’ approach, saying, “I could not understand why they are making it difficult to follow orders when they are the ones eager to impeach the Vice President.”
Background of the Impeachment Case
On February 5, over 200 House lawmakers voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte. The charges include alleged misuse of confidential funds, failure to disclose all assets in her statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth, and accusations related to assassination threats against President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
The Senate convened as the impeachment court only on June 10, marking a significant delay between the House vote and the trial proceedings.
Looking Ahead: Facing Challenges in Impeachment
Escudero concluded by saying that the involved parties will face each other at the appropriate time to address the ongoing issues. His remarks underscored the tension and hurdles within the impeachment process, reflecting broader political complexities.
For more news and updates on impeachment proceedings, visit Filipinokami.com.