Senate Poised to Block Motions to Dismiss Impeachment Trial
Deputy Minority Leader Sen. Risa Hontiveros vowed on Thursday to oppose all motions to dismiss the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte. She emphasized that it remains premature to discard the case at this stage.
Speaking at a Kapihan sa Senado forum, Hontiveros stated that if a senator raises a motion to dismiss Duterte’s impeachment case during the plenary session on August 6, it would spark a thorough debate. “If that happens, we would debate on it and I am ready, we in the minority are ready to fight for our arguments, our opinions and our vote regarding that,” she said in Filipino.
The opposition senator also affirmed her personal commitment to vote against any dismissal motion if it comes up for discussion. She reasoned that it is too early to vote on dismissal since no witnesses or concrete evidence have been presented to the senator-judges so far.
Upcoming Senate Discussions on Impeachment Trial
Senate President Francis Escudero announced that all senators agreed to hold discussions on the impeachment case on August 6. The session will focus on how to proceed after the Supreme Court declared the articles of impeachment null and void.
Escudero explained that scheduling the discussion will allow senator-judges sufficient time to review the Supreme Court’s 97-page decision thoroughly. He personally believes that the Senate impeachment court no longer needs to convene following the court’s ruling, but he acknowledged that the majority Senate decision will prevail.
Hontiveros Stands Firm Against Court Ruling
Contrary to the Senate President’s view, Hontiveros argued that the Supreme Court ruling does not vindicate the Senate. She highlighted that the Senate and Supreme Court are co-equal branches of government, each with distinct responsibilities within their jurisdiction. “Sino ang nagsabi na vindicated ang Senado sa ruling ng Korte Suprema? Ang Senado at Korte Suprema ay magkaibang sangay ng gobyerno,” she said.
The senator’s stance underscores a commitment to uphold the impeachment process despite the Supreme Court’s decision, emphasizing the Senate’s duty as an independent body to deliberate and decide on the matter.
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