Senate Debates Duty to Proceed with Impeachment Trial
Opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros is set to block Senator Bato dela Rosa’s motion that asks the incoming 20th Congress senators if they are willing to proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. This move highlights the ongoing tension surrounding the Senate’s responsibility to handle the impeachment case.
“It’s already in our hands, why would we surrender it?” Hontiveros said, emphasizing the Senate’s existing jurisdiction over the impeachment complaint against Duterte.
In a recent interview, Hontiveros expressed confidence that the Senate has full authority to conduct the impeachment trial. She dismissed any need to question the Senate’s jurisdiction, noting that courts and the Senate alike protect their authority once it has been established.
“I don’t know of any court that asks others if they have the jurisdiction when in fact they already got it. Usually, courts and, I suppose, the Senate are also the same; I would suppose the Senate, as an impeachment court, is protective of its jurisdiction. It’s already in our hands. Why else would we surrender it? That equates to us surrendering our duty,” she explained.
Senate’s Duty Is Firm and Non-Negotiable
The opposition senator stressed that the Senate’s obligation to hold and conduct an impeachment trial is unconditional. There is no room to ask senator-judges if they are willing or prepared to fulfill their constitutional duty.
“‘It’s not conditional as to whether we’re willing or in the mood. It’s our duty, the constitution orders us to comply, and we should be willing and able, and since it has already crossed, it’s already our responsibility. It’s no longer a question of whether we’re willing or not. We should be,’” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Meanwhile, former police chief turned senator, Bato dela Rosa, revealed his plan to file a motion in the Senate plenary. His intention is to ask the 20th Congress senators if they accept being bound by the decisions made by their predecessors in the 19th Congress regarding Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Rationale Behind Dela Rosa’s Motion
During a press briefing, dela Rosa argued that since the impeachment court required the House of Representatives to certify its willingness to pursue the impeachment, it is only fair to ask the Senate the same question.
“‘I will also ask the same question. Since we asked the House of Representatives, why not ask ourselves also? That’s the same. So let’s ask the Senate of the 20th Congress if they are willing to be bound by the actions of the previous Senate of the 19th Congress,’” dela Rosa stated.
On June 10, dela Rosa moved to dismiss the impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte. This motion triggered the Senate’s convening as an impeachment court.
After lengthy discussions, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano amended dela Rosa’s motion. The amendment called for the articles of impeachment to be sent back to the lower chamber. It also requested the House to certify that it did not breach the Constitution by filing more than one impeachment complaint within a year.
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