Senate Weighs Impeachment Proceedings Against Vice President Sara Duterte
MANILA, Philippines — The impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte might continue beyond August 6, according to impeachment court spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol. Senators are actively preparing for the impeachment debate scheduled for that day, signaling that the process is far from over.
Tongol outlined several possible scenarios for the Senate’s plenary session. “There are many questions that came out in their caucus. One of that is the question whether or not they should convene as an impeachment court or the Senate plenary will be able to vote on that,” he said during an interview on DZMM TeleRadyo.
Debate Over Senate’s Role and Supreme Court Ruling
Discussions are expected on whether the Senate will honor the Supreme Court’s decision declaring the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte unconstitutional. Tongol noted that senators might also consider the motion for reconsideration recently filed by the House of Representatives.
He added, “One of the motions that may possibly raise is to defer the voting on this issue. We can possibly see that the impeachment process will not die tomorrow.” This suggests that some senators may push to postpone any voting until the Supreme Court issues a final ruling on the motion for reconsideration.
Senators’ Stand and Upcoming Sessions
Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva confirmed that the sole agenda for Wednesday’s regular session is to discuss impeachment matters. While many senators have yet to publicly share their positions, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada revealed that 19 to 20 senators believe the Supreme Court’s ruling should be respected, effectively halting the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
With the ongoing debates and motions, the path of the impeachment proceedings remains uncertain. However, it is clear that the Senate is preparing to carefully navigate the legal and political complexities involved.
For more news and updates on impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte, visit Filipinokami.com.
