Teacher files petition seeking clarification on impeachment process

A teacher who is vying for a seat in the House of Representatives on Monday filed a petition with the Supreme Court (SC) seeking clarification on the impeachment process amid the impending trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. 

“I would just like to ask ano nga ba ibig sabihin ng forthwith? Kasi iba naman din ‘yung interpretation ni [Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero]. At the same time, iba-iba din ‘yung mga interpretation ng ibang mga legal expert,” John Tayam said in an interview.

(I would just like to ask what forthwith means? Because the interpretation of [Senate President] Chiz is different. And the interpretation of the other legal experts are also different.)  

Tayam is referring to Section 3(4) of Article XI, which states: In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.

On February 5, the House of Representatives impeached Duterte. The Articles of Impeachment against her were transmitted to the Senate on the same day.

Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, however, said that the Senate could only convene as an impeachment court when Congress is in session, meaning the trial would begin when the 20th Congress opens in July.

Escudero recently released the initial timetable for the procedures of the trial,  setting the tentative start of the trial on July 30.

According to Tayam, he asked the Court to define if this is still constitutional or if there is a delay in the process.

He said he also asked if there was a violation of Duterte’s rights. 

Tayam, meanwhile, denied that he is pro-impeachment or anti-Duterte.

He said he is not filing the petition due to politics.

“Nothing political dito kasi abunado naman po ako kung tutuusin at wala naman po nagsabi na gawin ko ito. It’s just a concern lang po,” he said.

(There is nothing political about this because I am the one solely funding this and there is no one who told me to do this. It’s just a concern.)

For her part, Duterte has filed a petition with the Supreme Court challenging the validity and constitutionality of the fourth impeachment complaint against her.

The SC has directed the House of Representatives and the Senate to submit comments on Duterte's petition.

The SC is assessing whether Duterte’s petition should be consolidated with another case filed by Mindanao lawyers, who are seeking a cease-and-desist order to stop the Senate from proceeding with the impeachment trial.

Lawyer Catalino Generillo Jr. has asked also the SC to compel the Senate to “immediately” convene as an impeachment court, arguing that the Constitution does not permit the Senate to delay its duty during recess.—AOL, GMA Integrated News