2 days ago
Retired SC justices sign San Beda statement urging VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial
'There is no sound constitutional and legal basis for any delay in the trial. In fact, an undue delay sends the signal to the nation that mandated processes are thwarted for ulterior ends,' the statement read.
Professors at the San Beda University Graduate School of Law have asked the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Among them are retired Supreme Court Associate Justices Adolf Azcuna and Jose Vitug, and graduate school dean Fr. Ranhilio Aquino.
Their statement came a day after more than 100 members of the faculty of the University of the Philippines College of Law made a similar call for the Senate to hear the articles of impeachment against the Vice President.
'We, professors of the Graduate School of Law of San Beda University, in our individual capacities, respectfully urge the Senate of the Philippines to proceed with the trial of the Vice President in accordance with Article XI of the Constitution,' the San Beda law professors said in their statement.
The members of the faculty said, 'Article XI is clear that when the verified complaint is endorsed by at least one-third of the members of the House of Representatives, trial by the Senate must thereupon proceed.'
'There is no sound constitutional and legal basis for any delay in the trial. In fact, an undue delay sends the signal to the nation that mandated processes are thwarted for ulterior ends,' the statement read.
The statement said that accountability is crucial to the workings of a government that should be able to earn the respect and trust of citizens. The trial is a measure of accountability.
'The problem with government, and the resulting lack of public trust in it, has to do with deficits in measures of accountability,' it said.
'We therefore urge the Senate to convene as ordained by the Constitution and to proceed with the impeachment trial of the Vice-President,' it added.
On Thursday, over 100 members of the UP College of Law faculty called on the Senate to start the impeachment trial and "let the truth unfold."
In an open letter, the faculty members called on the Senate to comply with the constitutional duty to "forthwith proceed" with the trial.
"Respectfully, a dismissal at this point would be deemed by the Filipino people as effectively engineered by the Senate's own delay and an abdication of its constitutional role in impeachment," it read.
The faculty members also stressed that the 19th Congress should not preempt whether the trial should continue. It said this should be left to the 20th Congress.
"For the Senate to decide for the 20th Congress would be undemocratic, contrary to the very rationale underlying the 'non-continuing body' argument," the letter read.
The members stressed that a dismissal would mean an abandonment of the Senate's tradition as an august chamber and will alter the country's system of checks and balances.
"It will also undermine the people's trust in the Senate as an independent and impartial institution before which the highest officials of the land may demonstrate and prove their fealty to the principles of accountability, public service, and democracy," it said.
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. –Jiselle Anne C. Casucian/NB, GMA Integrated News
