Supreme Court Rejects Motion for Extension
Lawyer Catalino Generillo Jr. has urged the Supreme Court to deny the motion for extension filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) concerning the petition he submitted about the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Generillo emphasized that the High Court set a strict 10-day, non-extendible period for the Senate to respond to his petition.
He pointed out that the motion for extension goes against Section 12 of the 2019 Amendments to the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure. “Figuratively speaking, the OSG motion is not worth the paper on which it is written,” he said. He respectfully requested, “Wherefore, premises considered, it is respectfully prayed that the OSG’s motion for extension to file comment be denied.”
Background of the Impeachment Petition
In February, Generillo filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to compel the Senate to convene immediately as an impeachment court and begin the trial of the Vice President. He argued that according to the 1987 Constitution, the Senate cannot delay its duty even during recess. Instead, it must promptly organize itself as an impeachment court and proceed with the trial.
Following this, the Supreme Court ordered the Senate to comment on the petition within a non-extendible period of 10 days from receipt of notice. The court treated the petition as urgent.
Articles of Impeachment and Senate Proceedings
The Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Duterte were transmitted to the Senate on February 5, the same day the House of Representatives impeached her. Despite this, the Senate has yet to convene as an impeachment court to start the trial.
The Supreme Court’s directive highlights the ongoing tension between the Senate’s schedule and the constitutional mandate to act swiftly on impeachment matters. Lawyer Generillo’s petition insists that the Senate must fulfill its duty without delay, reinforcing the urgency of the trial.
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