Senate Order Suggests Impeachment Trial Can Cross Over
The Senate’s directive to the House of Representatives to clarify whether Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment complaint will proceed in the 20th Congress points to the possibility that the trial can continue beyond the current session. House impeachment prosecutors Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro and Bukidnon Rep. Jonathan Keith Flores expressed this view during a press briefing on June 11.
“That’s the way I see it, and that’s one of the several things that I wish to welcome,” said Luistro when asked if the Senate’s question implies the complaint could indeed cross over. She added, “Yun pong kautusan nila na addressed sa 20th Congress, indeed is an admission already that we can continue the impeachment trial [in the] 20th Congress.”
Flores agreed, pointing out the Senate’s contradictory stance. “[Senate President Francis] Chiz [Escudero] has been saying that they cannot bind the 20th Congress Senate, yet, in their orders, they’re making us comment for the 20th Congress,” he remarked. He added, “So back to them, di ba? Sila na ang nagsabi nun, tapos sila din ang naglagay sa order nila.”
Impeachment Complaint Timeline and Senate Actions
The debate over whether Duterte’s impeachment complaint can proceed in the 20th Congress despite being filed during the 19th Congress remains a key issue. The House of Representatives filed the verified complaint along with seven articles of impeachment on February 5. However, the Senate only convened as an impeachment court on June 10, more than four months after receiving the complaint.
Wednesday, June 11, marked the final session day of the 19th Congress. The 20th Congress will officially begin in July, raising questions about the continuity of the impeachment trial.
Implications of the Senate’s Order
The Senate’s request for clarification from the House about pursuing the complaint in the next Congress effectively acknowledges that the impeachment process can extend beyond the current legislative period. This admission could set a precedent for handling impeachment cases that outlast a Congress’s term.
Prosecutors welcome this development, expressing readiness to continue the case. The situation underscores the complexities in managing impeachment trials that span different Congresses.
For more news and updates on the impeachment trial, visit Filipinokami.com.