Escudero: Marcos didn't order postponement of reading of impeachment raps vs VP Sara
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. was not behind the delay of the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment by the House prosecution panel against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Senate, Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero said Monday.
At a press conference, Escudero explained that the decision came after the Legislative-Executive Development Council (LEDAC) meeting on Thursday, May 29, upon consultation with some senators.
'No, it did not,' the Senate President said when asked if the suspension was a directive from Marcos.
'I was not even able to tell Martin, the Speaker, about that. He found out through the letter that I sent him,' he added.
Escudero also said the delay has nothing to do with his bid to continue his Senate leadership in the 20th Congress.
'I don't see the connection whatsoever. No…It has nothing to do, especially given the fact that the 20th Congress will have a totally different composition,' he said.
Last week, Escudero announced that the reading of impeachment raps against Duterte would be moved from June 2 to June 11, as the Congress needs to prioritize the passage of the items in the administration's legislative agenda before the 19th Congress adjourned sine die on June 14.
He said that the Senate's convening as an impeachment court may proceed also on June 11.
'June 11, ipe-present ng Kamara ang Articles of Impeachment—paguusapan, pagde-debatihan, at kung wala ay ire-refer 'yan sa committee of rules na magsisilbing senyal at hudyat para i-create ang impeachment court sa [June] 11 din,' he said.
(On June 11, the House will present the Articles of Impeachment—we'll discuss it, debate about it, and after that, it will be referred to the committee of rules that will serve as a sign and signal to create the impeachment court on June 11 as well.)
'Susumpa kami, iko-convene ang impeachment court, mag-aapprove ng rules, at magi-issue ng summons. Doon magwawakas ang procedure na gagawin sa ilalim ng 19th Congress sa June 11,' he added.
(We will take an oath and the impeachment court will be convened. The rules will be approved, and summons will be issued. That's when the procedure under the 19th Congress will end, on June 11.)
With the postponement, Escudero explained that nobody loses nor benefit because even if the Senate convenes now as impeachment court, they still can't hold the trial in the 19th Congress due to limited time and therefore needs to be passed to the next Congress.
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint against her. She was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
9 hours ago
- GMA Network
Afraid of Sara Duterte? Chiz Escudero says that's a 'bait' question
Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero on Tuesday brushed off allegations that his supposed fear of Vice President Sara Duterte has resulted in delays in the start of her impeachment trial. "Pain naman ang tanong na 'yun. Ginagawa namin kung ano ang trabaho namin. 'Yung mga ganyang uri ng komentaryo at pain, uulitin ko—du'n sa mga ayaw kay VP Sara at pabor sa impeachment, do'n sa mga gusto kay VP Sara at tutol sa impeachment—walang bale sa akin 'yun," Escudero said in an ambush interview. (That's a bait question. We just do our jobs. That kind of comment and bait, I'll repeat—for those who don't like VP Sara and are in favor of impeachment, and for those who like VP Sara and are against impeachment—it doesn't matter to me.) He was reacting to the statement of Akbayan party-list Representative Perci Cendaña, who earlier asked if the Senate President is afraid of Duterte. Cendaña, who endorsed the first impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte in the House of Representatives, had stressed that convening the Senate as an impeachment court is "a solemn constitutional duty, not a seasonal accessory you put on or discard depending on the political weather, or one's personal agenda." Escudero, in response, said he would just follow what he thinks is right and what is stated under the law, regardless of who will be affected. "'Yung mga ganyang uri ng komentaryo, klarong nanggagaling sa kampo na tutol kay VP Sara at pabor sa impeachment. Hayaan natin dalhin nila 'yung kanilang opinyon at pananaw na 'yun," he added. (Those kinds of comments clearly come from the camp that is against VP Sara and in favor of impeachment. Let's let them have their own opinions and perspectives.) Escudero, however, once again lashed out at House members who want to expedite the impeachment proceedings, emphasizing that it took the lower chamber four months before sending the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate. "Kung sila mismo 'yung hindi nagmadali, inupuan, at pa-banjing banjing sa mahabang panahon, sino naman sila para madaliin kami ngayon? Hindi porket gusto nila, eh ganu'n na. At nung ayaw naman nila, e karapatan din nilang magpa-banjing banjing at i-delay 'yun," he said. (If they themselves didn't hurry; and instead sat on the complaints and waited for a long time, who are they to rush us now? It's not because they want to, we would just let them. And if they don't want to, they would just wait around and delay it.) Public interest Opposition lawmakers and impeachment complainants from the Makabayan coalition earlier questioned if senators are protecting Duterte instead of the public interest. This was in response to Escudero's statement that the convening of the Senate impeachment court for the trial of the impeached Vice President depends on the plenary vote of the senators, even though the Constitution states that a Senate impeachment trial "shall forthwith proceed" once a verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the members of the House. Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint against her. She was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
10 hours ago
- GMA Network
Marcos vows protection of labor sector rights, welfare
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on Tuesday told labor leaders that he would ensure workers' rights and welfare. 'Nakausap ko ang ating mga labor leaders para tiyakin na mananatiling protektado ang karapatan at kapakanan ng ating mga manggagawa,' Marcos said in a social media post as he met with labor leaders at the Goldenberg Mansion within Palace complex. 'Patuloy ang suporta ng gobyerno sa bukas at makabuluhang usapan tungo sa trabahong may dignidad, sahod na sapat, at kinabukasang may pag-asa para sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino,' he added. In a separate press statement, TUCP Party-list Representative and House Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza thanked Marcos for meeting them and listening to the voice of labor. 'We brought forward the necessity of strengthening the right of workers to freely form and join unions not only because it is a fundamental constitutional right guarantee and part and parcel of international labor standards, but also because it is vital to building back better our national economy and unlocking hundreds of thousands of investment and employment opportunities through tariff-free access and free trade agreements,' Mendoza said. The country's largest labor center TUCP is pushing for the immediate passage of: (a) Union Formation Act to remove barriers and make it easier to form unions free from interference and intimidation; (b) Assumption of Jurisdiction Act to limit the overbroad discretionary power of the Labor Secretary to assume jurisdiction over labor disputes from 'industries indispensable to national interest,' which can be any industry, to only 'industries engaged in essential services' as defined by the ILO, wherein 'interruption of which would endanger life, personal safety, or health'; and (c) Workers' Right to Strike Act to remove dismissal and imprisonment as penalties for illegal strikes because these are too harsh and disproportionate to this fundamental labor right. Mendoza said the labor sector trusts that the President's commitment would be matched by concrete executive and legislative support for these critical reforms. 'Our workers deserve more than lip service—they demand and deserve laws that promote their dignity at work and in life, substantially raise their wages towards true living wages, and create new, permanent, and decent jobs,' Marcos said. The TUCP vows to continue working together with social partners in the government and employers to ensure that labor rights are not just promised, but upheld at all times, said Mendoza. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
12 hours ago
- GMA Network
Alan Cayetano: Senate must do Constitutional duty in Sara Duterte impeachment
Senator Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday said that the Senate remains duty-bound to fulfill its constitutional mandate in the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte. Cayetano, running mate of Sara's father Rodrigo in the 2016 presidential elections, said this when asked whether or not the Senate still needs to vote to convene as an impeachment court. 'Kapag Constitutional mandate, gagawin mo lang. Having said that, 'di ba kasi, 'yung implementing it and applying it to the 24 [senators], may botohan 'yan. But just because may botohan, doesn't make it right,' he said. (If it's a Constitutional mandate, you just do it. Having said that, because you're implementing it and applying it to 24 senators, there should be a vote. But just because there is voting, it doesn't make it right.) Asked if a Constitutional mandate can be overturned by a simple majority vote of the Senate plenary, the veteran lawmaker said, 'Hindi dapat [it should not be].' The presentation of the articles of impeachment by the House of Representatives prosecution panel against the Vice President before the Senate was moved from June 2 to June 11—days before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die on June 14. Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero explained the decision was made as the Senate and the House need to prioritize the passage of the items in the administration's legislative agenda before the 19th Congress closes. Senator JV Ejercito also said that it is not optional for the Senate to convene as an impeachment court because it is their Constitutional duty to do so. 'I think duty talaga natin sa [it's really our duty under the] Constitution,' Ejercito said. 'Obstructions' Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, criticized the supposed delays, pointing out that convening as an impeachment court and commencing trial is 'expressly mandated' by the Constitution. 'These delays are no longer procedural. They are obstructions dressed up as protocol. The impeachment process is a crucial means of demanding accountability exclusively entrusted by the people to the Senate,' she said in a video message. 'It's time to follow the rules and start the process 'forthwith'. Enough games. Time to move,' she added. Article XI Section 3(4) of the 1987 Constitution states that: '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.' For his part, Senator Ronald 'Bato' dela Rosa, said the impeachment should no longer cross to the 20th Congress. However, if it does, he said it 'remains to be seen' whether he would try to block it or not in the next Congress. 'Those are legal questions that need to be answered. Legal issues 'yan eh. Titingnan natin, pag-uusapan [those are legal questions we need to discuss],' dela Rosa said. Escudero said Monday that senators in the 20th Congress will have the final say on whether or not Duterte's impeachment trial will push through. Senator Loren Legarda, on the other hand, said that she will abide by the decision of the leadership regarding the matter. 'It's not just for one senator to decide what to do, right? Our opinion would be of no consequence. It's for them to decide whether it will be put in the agenda for a vote at all or that's it,' she told reporters in an ambush interview. Protest rally On Tuesday morning, a number of protesters flocked to the Senate to question the delays in the impeachment proceedings. Bayan Secretary General Mong Palatino said they are willing to hold a vigil in front of the Senate to call on the upper chamber to push through with the impeachment trial of Duterte. 'Tayo ay kikilos sa pananagutan at sisingilin natin itong Senado na sa halip na pakinggan ang boses ng mga mamamayan, sa halip na ipakita ang ebidensya laban sa korapsyon, mas pinili nitong pagtakpan, protektahan ang magnanakaw, ang mga mandarambong,' Palatino said. (We will have the Senate pay for choosing to protect the thieves, instead of listening to the voice of the people and showing the evidence against corruption.) —RF, GMA Integrated News
