SC a 'last resort' for House prosecutors if Senate junks VP Sara impeachment —spox
"Wala kaming ibang pupuntahan kasi ang SC lang ang final judge ng Constitutional issue of whether it is compliant with the Constitution or not,' Bucoy said at the Saturday News Forum.
(We have nowhere else to go because the SC is the final judge of the Constitutional issue of whether it is compliant with the Constitution or not.)
Bucoy made the remark after Duterte entered a 'not guilty' plea in the verified impeachment complaint filed against her by the House of Representatives, which she called merely a 'scrap of paper.'
In the 35-page answer ad cautelam (with caution) submitted by Duterte's camp to the Senate impeachment court on Monday, the Vice President argued that the fourth impeachment complaint must be dismissed for being illegal, saying that it violated the one-year bar rule under the 1987 Constitution.
The House of Representatives prosecution panel, in response, asked the Senate impeachment court to reject Duterte's bid to dismiss the impeachment case against her, saying the severity of the charges requires no less than a full and transparent trial and her conviction.
Should the Senate impeachment court rule in favor of the Vice President's appeal, Bucoy said the House prosecution would file before the Supreme Court a 'petition for certiorari with mandamus, questioning the exercise of abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction.'
''Yun lang ang puwede namin i-akyat eh, 'yung grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction… mandamus for the [Supreme] Court to compel the [Senate] court to try it,' he said.
(That's all we can do. The grave abuse of discretion amounts to a lack of jurisdiction… mandamus for the Supreme Court to compel the Senate court to proceed with the trial.)
'The only thing the SC can do is either reverse or modify 'yung kanilang decision,' he added.
(The SC can either reverse or modify the decision.)
Motion
Senate President Francis Escudero on Wednesday said that the Senate impeachment court may vote on the motion to dismiss the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte if a senator-judge makes such a submission.
'Wala namang bawal na motion... Asan ba 'yung provision sa Saligang Batas o sa Rules on Impeachment na bawal ang ganito o ganyang klaseng motion? Hindi mo namang pwedeng pigilan,' Escudero said in a press conference.
(There is no prohibited motion. Where is the law, constitutional provision, or Rules of Impeachment that a certain motion is prohibited? You cannot stop someone from making a motion.)
Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa had moved in the plenary for the dismissal of the Articles of Impeachment, but his motion was eventually amended so that the complaint be returned to the House of Representatives pending a couple of certifications.
'Constitutional crisis'
Bucoy, meanwhile, warned that it would become a 'constitutional crisis' if the Senate refuses to follow what the Supreme Court's decision would be.
'There will be a constitutional crisis kung nag utos ang SC at ayaw sumunod then we have a crisis, pero I doubt kung hindi sila susunod," he said.
This, as Bucoy stressed the importance of proceeding with the trial.
'Para sa amin, mahalaga na magkaroon ng paglilitis, kahit na i-acquit niyo yan, basta naipakita namin sa bayan ang mga ebidensya namin sa lahat ng krimen na ginawa niya,' he said.
(For us, it is important to have a trial, even if you acquit her, as long as we have shown the people our evidence for all the crimes she committed.)
'Bayan na ang maghuhusga sa inyo. Pero babalikan ko ulit, nagtitiwala pa rin kami sa proseso dahil ito haka-haka pa rin. Malalaman natin sa susunod na mga araw kung tama ang ating pag agam-agam,' he added.
(Let the people be the judge. Again, we still trust the process because this is still speculation. We will know in the coming days if our doubts are correct.)
Duterte is accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes mainly over alleged misuse of P612.5 million worth of confidential funds and for threatening to kill President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., his wife Liza and his Speaker Martin Romualdez of Leyte, among others.
The Vice President has denied the allegations.
Bucoy also said that the House prosecution team has not yet discussed whether it will file a motion for inhibition against senator-judges who have expressed biases in the case.
'I think there's growing opinion… it's gaining ground na 'wag na lang.' Malilihis na naman eh. Pangalawa, it will only compound our numbers issues,' he said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
2 hours ago
- GMA Network
DA chief: Rice tariff law ‘threatens to kill' local rice industry
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Wednesday called for amending the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL), warning that it 'threatens to kill' the rice industry. During the hearing of the Senate committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform, Tiu Laurel emphasized that the government must revisit, amend, and possibly replace laws that 'no longer serve [the] farmers and consumers.' 'Foremost among these is the Rice Tariffication Law. Though crafted with noble goals, I have to admit, it has faltered. By fully liberalizing rice imports, it unintentionally undermined the Department of Agriculture and the NFA, stripping us of the ability to intervene and protect this most vital of commodities,' he said. 'As currently written, the RTL does not reform the rice industry—it threatens to kill it,' he added. Enacted in 2019 to liberalize rice importation, the RTL empowers the President to halt imports under specific conditions. Before the RTL took effect and its amended version this year, the National Food Authority (NFA) could import rice to augment supply, allowing it to maintain a healthier buffer stock and intervene when prices surged. Earlier this month, Malacañang also admitted the government has encountered challenges in stabilizing the price of rice due to the RTL. The DA chief also lamented the devolution of agricultural extension services under the Local Government Code, which he said took from the agency 'the very foot soldiers we need to win a war against hunger.' 'Without them, the DA is just an office full of officers like generals, colonels , or majors without soldiers on the ground to fully implement its plans and vision for an agri-secure Philippines,' Tiu Laurel said. He also echoed the statement of panel vice chairperson Senator Rodante Marcoleta that the Philippines is still far from attaining food security. 'In recent years, we have taken bold steps to undo the legacy of neglect that has stunted our agricultural sector for decades. Reforms have been made, enacted, investments have begun to flow, and productivity is rising. Yet, the road ahead remains long and steep. Parang nabanggit ho ni Senator Marcoleta nga kanina, hindi pa tayo food-secure…kulang pa,' Tiu Laurel said. (Like what Senator Marcoleta said a while ago, we are not yet food-secure, we're still lacking.) Meanwhile, committee chairperson Francis 'Kiko' Pangilinan vowed to find the fastest way to reduce the price of food and other commodities in a bid to address hunger among Filipinos. 'Problema ito na urgent at ang urgency kailangang kumilos dahil hindi makakapaghintay ang gutom. Ang ating mga ginugutom na mga kababayan kung hindi masisira ang ulo, magkakasakit o kung hindi kaya matapos magkasakit ay mamamatay,' Pangilinan said. (This is an urgent problem and an urgent action is needed because hunger cannot wait. Our starving countrymen will either lose their minds, get sick, or possibly die due to this.) — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 hours ago
- GMA Network
Palace says proposed mandatory drug test violates Constitution
Malacañang said Wednesday that the proposal of Senator Robin Padilla for a mandatory drug test among elected and appointed government officials violates the 1987 Constitution. ''So, ang nais po ni Senator Robin Padilla ay lahat ng public officers? Sana po ay nabasa niya na po ang desisyon ng korte patungkol po dito. Social Justice Society versus Dangerous Drugs Board 2008 kung saan hindi po hinahayaan at ito ay labag sa Konstitusyon at sa privacy kung lahat po,'' Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said in a briefing. (So, Senator Robin Padilla wants all public officers? I hope he was able to read the court's decision on the matter. Social Justice Society versus Dangerous Drugs Board 2008 wherein this was not allowed as this is against the Constitution and everyone's privacy.) '''Pag sinabi po nating lahat, universal testing – mandatory universal or universal testing. Ang allowed lamang po ay ang random drug testing. So, baka magsayang lang po ng oras at pera/pondo si Senator Robin Padilla. Aralin po muna niya po ang nais niyang gawing batas,'' she added. (What's allowed is the random drug testing. So maybe Senator Robin Padilla will just waste funds. I suggest he study first the law that he wants.) To recall, the Supreme Court, in November 2008, declared as unconstitutional a provision in the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 requiring mandatory drug testing on all candidates for public office and people facing criminal charges. The same decision however affirmed the validity of a provision mandating random and 'suspicionless' drug tests for students in secondary and tertiary schools, as well as employees of public and private offices. Under Padilla's Senate Bill No. 1200, also known as the proposed Drug-Free Government Act, he proposed that the initiative be implemented first through a screening process via a hair follicle drug test. The confirmation of the screening test will then be done through a urine drug test, the proposed measure stated. Subject to this are all elected and appointed government officials as well as government instrumentalities or government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs), whether domestic or overseas. Further, any official found positive for the use of dangerous drugs shall be dealt with administratively, which may result in suspension or termination from office, subject to pertinent laws. The bill also sought to institutionalize the voluntary random hair follicle drug testing of candidates for electoral posts within 90 days before election day. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 hours ago
- GMA Network
Escudero wants LGUs' participation in budget hearings
Senate President Francis 'Chiz' Escudero has recommended that governors and city mayors be invited to participate in the Senate's upcoming hearings on the proposed 2026 national budget. According to his office, Escudero made the suggestion to Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the Senate committee on finance. 'Kung mga division heads ng maliliit na bureaus ay dumadalo sa budget hearings, bakit ang mga pinuno ng mga probinsya at malalaking lungsod ay hindi?' Escudero asked. (If division heads of small bureaus attend budget hearings, why don't the heads of provinces and big cities?) 'They have been sidelined for too long. It is now time to give them a seat at the table,' he added. The Senate leader emphasized that the feedback of local chief executives 'is too important to be ignored,' saying that they can even help 'vet and verify' whether the projects in the proposed budget truly respond to the needs of their constituents. 'The perspectives of leaders on the ground are invaluable in determining which projects are necessary and which are not. They can also help flag possible overpricing in the appropriations being requested,' Escudero said. 'One way to achieve this is by requiring the approval or endorsement of the respective Provincial Development Councils and the Regional Development Councils for all development projects so that, at the very least, each LGU will be informed and notified of the proposed programs and activities of the national government in the ensuing year,' he added. On August 13, the Department of Budget and Management turned over the copy of the P6.793-trillion 2026 National Expenditure Program to the Senate, which was personally received by Escudero. The same was also submitted to the House of Representatives. That same day, the Senate adopted in the plenary Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 4, which seeks to establish transparency and accountability in the passage of the national budget. –VBL, GMA Integrated News
