Latest news with #ArticlesofImpeachment
GMA Network
an hour ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
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
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
House prosecutor: Swear in senators as impeach trial judges pronto
To ensure that the Senate convenes into an impeachment court before the 19th Congress ends, an impeachment prosecutor recommended Friday that senators take their oath as impeachment court judges immediately after the Articles of Impeachment are read in a Senate session on June 11. "I hope they can convene by taking their oath as senator-judges also on June 11. It's up to them how their agenda will include that. But that's the most practical way of convening the impeachment court while they are still in session," said impeachment prosecutor Lorenz Defensor, who serves as House deputy majority leader and representative of the 3rd district of Iloilo. Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero wrote the House of Representatives to say that the reading of Articles of Impeachment on June 2 has been postponed to June 11 so the Senate could prioritize approving important pieces of legislation. Based on the legislative calendar of the 19th Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives resume session from June 2 to 13 before they adjourn sine die on June 14. Congress will resume session on July 28 when the 20th Congress opens. "Further delay means that the Senate cannot constitute itself as the impeachment court if we will not hold sessions the following day on June 12, kasi holiday (because it's a holiday)," Defensor said. He added, "Meaning wala pang senador ang makaka-take oath, magtatapos na ang 19th Congress kasi mag-a-adjourn na kami sine die. So meaning, wala pa rin impeachment court by June 13, June 14. Kasi walang nag-take oath on a session day." (This means no senator will be able to take an oath as a judge. The 19th Congress would end because we will adjourn sine die. So meaning, there would still be no impeachment court by June 13, June 14, because nobody took an oath on a session day.) Abide by Senate's decision However, Defensor said he and the other impeachment prosecutors of the House of Representatives cannot do anything but abide by the Senate's decision. "I am disheartened because the delay has been long enough, but a lawyer in any court, the defense as well as the prosecution, will have to abide by whatever the court will decide on and whatever order or whatever process the Senate court will issue," Defensor said. "So tatanggapin namin 'yun. Parang abogado lang sa korte (So we will accept that, just like a lawyer in court)," he added. Lost time Defensor and another House leader, House Deputy Majority Leader and La Union 1st district Representative Paolo Ortega, expressed concern over the delay. Ortega said, "Well, may delay, may cause of delay. Doon lang tayo may konting apprehension kasi sayang 'yung oras. A few months ago, a few weeks ago, may na-set na tayo na oras tapos biglang ganito na naman." (Well, there's a delay, a cause of delay. That was our apprehension because time will be lost. A few months ago, a few weeks ago, a timeline was set then here comes a new schedule.) For his part, Defensor said, "I accept the reason for delay of the Senate President. Anyway, what is one week? And they said that they will prioritize the priority bills under the LEDAC (Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council). But as for any further delay, it's very bad for democracy. It's not a good reflection of how the Senate wants to proceed with this impeachment trial." "So sana ma-reconsider ng Senado ang kanilang desisyon na ipatagal pa (Hopefully the Senate would reconsider their decision to push back the date). While we respect the decision of the Senate as the impeachment court eventually, we hope that they will uphold their duty to hold trial for this impeachment," he added. GMA Integrated News has sought comment from Escudero regarding the matter, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
De Lima: Resked of impeach raps reading meant to 'kill' Sara trial
Incoming ML Partylist representative Leila de Lima raised alarm Friday over the Senate's decision to move the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte from June 2 to June 11, calling it a potential strategy to derail the process. "Isa 'yan sa mga senyales na sa tingin ko, may nangyayari. Sa tingin ko, mayroon nang ganyang usapan—na kino-consider na nila 'yan to kill the impeachment trial," said De Lima, who is set to join the House impeachment prosecution panel. (I think that's one of the signs that something's happening. I think with these discussions, they are considering to kill the impeachment trial.) De Lima aired her concern at the Agenda at the Club Filipino news forum, warning that by the time June 11 arrives, the Senate might simply vote not to proceed with the trial. "Ang nai-imagine ko na, na come June 11, sasabihin na naman nila, 'Okay, hindi na puwede. Let's put it to a vote.' Hindi tayo makakasiguro na majority of them will say, 'Okay, let's proceed,'" she said. "I can only foresee na on that last day, sasabihin na lang nila na hindi na puwede." (I would imagine that come June 11, they'll say, 'Okay, we can't do it anymore. Let's put it to a vote.' We can't be assured that majority of them will say, 'Okay, let's proceed.') Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero earlier informed the House of Representatives that the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment has been reset to June 11, just three days before Congress adjourns sine die on June 14. In a letter to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Escudero said both chambers needed to prioritize legislation under the administration's agenda, and address over 200 presidential appointments still pending confirmation by the Commission on Appointments. "With only six session days before the sine die adjournment, it is imperative for the Senate and the House of Representatives to prioritize the passage of these measures," Escudero said. GMA Integrated News has requested comment from Escudero regarding De Lima's statements, but he has yet to respond as of posting time. Meanwhile, De Lima also suggested that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s public remarks distancing himself from the issue may have influenced the Senate's handling of the timeline. "Sa mga public statements na 'yon, may epekto rin 'yan sa dilly-dally [ng impeachment] (Those statements have an effect on the dillying-dallying of the impeachment process)," she said. Malacañang said Friday the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte is beyond the reach of Marcos. The President has previously said that he was not in favor of the impeachment trial as it would take away Congress' focus from the passage of critical pieces of legislation. De Lima questioned the repeated delays, noting that even in the House, the initial transmission of the articles was held off due to budget deliberations. "I'm also questioning that—kasi ilang beses na ba namo-move (because it's been moved repeatedly)?" she said. "Hindi agad pinadala noon kasi ang excuse nila is budget hearing. Prioritized ang budget hearing bago kinonsider ang mga complaint." (Back then, it wasn't transmitted right away because their excuse was that there were budget hearings. However, budget hearings are prioritized before complaints are considered.) De Lima argued that the Senate should have acted on the impeachment trial as soon as the House voted to impeach Vice President Sara Duterte, and transmitted the complaint last February. "That term 'shall forthwith' is there in the Constitution—nilabag na agad 'yon eh at that point (it was violated right away at that point)," she said, referring to the constitutional requirement that the Senate must proceed with the trial immediately after receiving the Articles of Impeachment. Also on Friday, Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel said he would ask Escudero about his decision to move the presentation of articles, noting that the later had issued an "impeachment calendar" months ago. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
House prosecutor chosen to read articles of impeachment in VP Sara trial
The House prosecution panel has already selected which one of them will read the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte before the Senate next week, but declined to name the prosecutor for now. 'While I did not personally have the chance to speak with any of the senator-judges, I understand based on the agreement between the House of Representatives and the Senate that one prosecutor will be asked to read the seven Articles of Impeachment during the June 2 session of the Senate,' impeachment prosecutor and Iloilo 3rd District Representative Lorenz Defensor told reporters in an online interview. Defensor said it is not required for all 11 House impeachment prosecutors to be present at the Senate during the reading. 'I did not receive any instruction that all prosecutors are required to attend the June 2 session. But only one prosecutor will be required to read the seven articles of impeachment,' he said. The House impeachment prosecution panel had met earlier this week, the last big group meeting before their appearance at the Senate, although Defensor said smaller groups may meet again this week. He also said the 19th Congress may be ending soon but it is only their legislative duty that will be ending and not their duty relative to the impeachment. Defensor was reacting to Senator-elect Vicente "Tito" Sotto III's statement that whatever was discussed in the 19th Congress cannot be carried over to the 20th Congress. 'Tandaan natin na kapag nagtapos ang 19th Congress, ang nagtatapos lang, ang aming legislative power. Hindi natatapos ang isang impeachment proceeding na nakahain na sa Senado,' Defensor said. (Let us remember that when the 19th Congress ends, what only ends is our legislative power. An impeachment proceeding before the Senate will not be ended by that.) He compared the impeachment case to a regular case filed in court. 'Once a case is filed with the trial court, the judge may retire, the judge may get promoted, but the case stays on with the trial court. Hindi nadi-dismiss ang kaso just because napalitan ang mga judges [The case is not dismissed just because the judges are replaced],' he added. When asked if the issue may be brought before the Supreme Court, Defensor replied, 'As far as we are concerned, since the impeachment is a purely political question, the Supreme Court should not interfere with the impeachment process.' But, he added, 'We will respect whatever decision the Senate will have on this and how they will act on it, as well as the Supreme Court on how they will decide on the pending petitions.' There are two petitions before the Supreme Court: one filed by a lawyer asking the SC to compel the Senate to proceed with the trial and another filed by Vice President Sara Duterte asking the SC to block the impeachment, saying it violates the one-year ban rule. 'We also have to understand that the impeachment is the highest form of national inquest in our country. Hindi dapat pigilan ito [It must not be stopped] because the impeachment is intended to protect the people, to protect the government, from a high public official who is sitting in office and should be removed if necessary if she committed a violation of the Constitution,' Defensor stressed. When asked if a senator can choose not to take their oath as an impeachment court judge, Defensor replied, 'If you are a sitting senator and an impeachment proceeding is pending before the Senate, you have to do your constitutional duty to take your oath and act as senator-judge. Just like the prosecutors, we did not request to be prosecutors, we did not intend to be prosecutors. But we were elected by 215 members of Congress. And it is incumbent upon us to do our Constitutional duty to prosecute this impeachment complaint.' Regarding President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s pronouncements against the impeachment, Defensor said, 'The President should not be involved in the impeachment. And I'm glad to hear that the President as the head of the Executive Department will not interfere with the impeachment process. As the President is the most powerful man in the country, he will exert undue influence on the Senator judges and we want the Senator judges to act independently, free from any influence from the executive department.' — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Will impeachment trial cause chaos? Marcos doesn't think so
Speaking before members of the Philippine media who covered his participation in the ASEAN Summit and related meetings in this city, Marcos was asked if he thought the impeachment trial would result in chaos. KUALA LUMPUR – President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. doesn't think the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will result in political turmoil, but reiterated he didn't want the impeachment in the House of Representatives. Speaking before members of the Philippine media who covered his participation in the ASEAN Summit and related meetings in this city, Marcos was asked if he thought the impeachment trial would result in chaos. 'I don't think so, but you know, the legislators, the Senate, and the House are going to decide on how to handle it. I don't think that they have made decisions yet in that regard," Marcos said. Marcos said his allies in the House didn't file the impeachment complaints against Sara Duterte. He said he could not have influenced the persons involved to file the complaints versus the Vice President. "Why did I have to keep explaining that I didn't want impeachment?'' Marcos said. Marcos has said that the impeachment trial of Sara Duterte was already in the hands of the Senate, adding that the process should be allowed to take its course. Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 congressmen 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. The Vice President, for her part, said she was looking forward to her impeachment trial in the upcoming 20th Congress. She said she wanted "a bloodbath'' adding that her legal team was "full throttle" in their preparations. The reading of the Articles of Impeachment is set for June 2. –NB, GMA Integrated News
