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Escudero: Preps ongoing but no impeachment trial vs. Sara Duterte during break
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Wednesday preparations are underway for the impending impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, but maintained that it will not happen while the Congress is on break.
“Bahagi ng paghahanda ng Senado ‘yun. Ininspeksyon kung kinain na ba ng anay 'yung mga ginamit na lamesa at witness stand, ni-locate, nilagay sa kanya-kanyang mga lugar [...]," Escudero said during a press briefing when asked if the session hall is being prepared for the impeachment trial.
"Dahil naisampa na ang impeachment, may katiyakan na na magkakaroon ng impeachment trial at kailangan itong paghandaan ng Senado. Hindi namin inaaksaya ang panahon, bagaman recess sa paghahanda kaugnay nito,” he added.
(It’s part of the Senate’s preparation. We inspected if mites have already infested the tables and witness stands that were used before. They were already put in place [...] Because the impeachment was already filed, the impeachment trial will surely take place soon and the Senate is already preparing for it. We are not wasting any time even though we are currently on recess.)
Escudero said that a legal staff is being assembled and robes for senator judges are also being prepared. He added that less than P1 million will be spent for the impeachment trial.
However, the Senate President reiterated that the Upper Chamber will not convene as an impeachment court anytime soon.
(As long as there is no session, no trial will happen while we are in recess. That’s very clear in our rules.)
The Senate adjourned its sessions last February 5 without tackling the impeachment complaint endorsed by over 200 members of the House of Representatives and transmitted to the Senate on the same day.
But Escudero said then that the Senate will not rush Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Meanwhile, the Vice President has already filed a petition with the Supreme Court challenging the validity and constitutionality of the fourth impeachment complaint against her.
The petition for certiorari and prohibition with urgent application of temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction was filed with the SC on Tuesday, February 18.
Since the impeachment court was not convened during the last day of session, Escudero said Duterte’s impeachment trial will most likely start after the State of the Nations Address (SONA) on July 28 under the 20th Congress.
The Senate president expressed belief that it was providential that the Senate did not immediately start the trial in order for the issues on technicalities to be brought to the SC.
“Marahil providential na hindi kami natuloy sa trial dahil nag-recess kami para lahat ng mga bagay na ito ay maidulog na sa Korte Suprema at mapagpasyahan na ng Korte Suprema para wala nang pipigil o aantala sa trial ng Senado na mga ganitong uri ng teknikalidad o issue na maaring i-bring up ng nasasakdal na si VP Sara,” Escudero said.
(Perhaps it was providential that we did not proceed with the trial because we took a recess so that all these matters could be brought to and be decided by the Supreme Court. So that nothing would stop or delay the trial by the Senate with these types of technicalities or issues that could be brought up by the defendant VP Sara.)
“So may sapat na panahon ang Korte Suprema para resolbahan at sagutin ang lahat ng mga issue na ito bago pa man mag-convene ang impeachment court,” he added.
(So the Supreme Court has enough time to resolve and answer these issues before we convene the impeachment court.)
Unless there is a temporary restraining order on the Articles of Impeachment filed against Duterte, Escudero assured the public that the Senate will continue with its duty.
“Again, the Senate will perform its duty and function under the Constitution unless there is a TRO or preliminary injunction issued by the Supreme Court. Absent that, we will continue with our duty regardless of the pendency of any case thus filed as of now or maybe filed in the future,” he said.
No clamor
Escudero also said there is no clamor for the immediate convening of the impeachment court.
"On the record, one case has been filed, three letters have been sent to me. Is that clamor? I don’t think so," he said.
“I don't define that as clamor. There are people asking for it. Saang libro naman sinabing naging clamor na 'yung isang kaso? May nakalagay ba sa depinisyon ng clamor ang dapat limang kaso o sampung kaso, labinlimang kaso, dalawampung kaso bago maging clamor? Iisa pa lang 'yung kaso eh, ang sumusulat sa akin tatlo pa lang,” he said.
(I don’t define that as clamor. There are people asking for it. Which book has stated that one case can be considered a clamor? Is it within the definition of clamor that there should be five, ten, fifteen, or twenty cases before you can say there is really such a clamor? There is one case and three people have sent me a letter.)
"Pangalawa, magbalik-tanaw tayo sa panahon ni Hesus, may clamor na i-pako siya sa krus, eh hindi naman ibig sabihin nun totoo at tama 'yun," Escudero added.
(Secondly, let’s go back to the time of Jesus, there was a clamor to crucify him, but it doesn’t mean that it’s true and right.)
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel earlier sent a letter to Escudero to immediately start the impeachment trial of Duterte, emphasizing that it is the Senate's constitutional mandate to do so.
Bayan Muna Party-list on Monday also submitted a position paper to the Senate also calling for swift action on the impeachment trial.
The impeachment complaint largely stemmed from the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability's inquiry into the use of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education under Duterte's leadership.
While the impeachment court has yet to be convened, Duterte said at this early stage that she will not appear since, she said, it is allowed. —AOL/KG/VBL, GMA Integrated News
