3 days ago
Ex-IBP chief: Senate can't dismiss VP Sara impeachment via resolution
Former Integrated Bar of the Philippines President (IBP) Atty. Domingo Cayosa on Tuesday said the Senate cannot dismiss the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte through a Senate resolution.
'Hindi ho pwede 'yun, ano (that's not allowed),' Cayosa said on Unang Balita.
Cayosa's statement comes after Senator Robin Padilla on Monday filed a resolution seeking to declare as terminated the impeachment proceedings against Duterte.
In his Senate Resolution 1371, Padilla said that the 19th Congress will adjourn sine die on Friday, June 13, and thus, "all pending matters and proceedings shall terminate upon the expiration of one (1) Congress."
Previously, Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa also admitted that he was also behind a Senate resolution seeking to dismiss the impeachment case against Duterte.
Dela Rosa and Padilla are known allies of the Duterte family.
Cayosa, meanwhile, urged senators to maintain a semblance of impartiality in the impeachment process.
"Nakakalungkot lang 'yan sapagkat malinaw naman ang kanilang role bilang hukom,' Cayosa said.
(It's just unfortunate because their role as judges is clearly defined.)
'Saan ka nakakita ng sitwasyon na kung saan handang-handa ang prosecution, handang-handa ang depensa, pero 'yung hukom sasabihin nila ayaw nila?' he added.
(Where have you seen a situation where the prosecution is fully prepared, the defense is fully prepared, but the judges say they don't want to proceed?)
'Impractical'
Cayosa also said that it is 'impractical' to finish the trial in 19 days, as proposed by Senator Francis Tolentino.
'Sa tingin ko ho mahihirapan sila. Wag naman sana— dinelay na nga nila ito. Ngayong sinimulan, eh papaspasan naman," Cayosa said.
(I think they will have a hard time. Hopefully not— they already delayed this. Now that it has started, they're rushing it.)
"You know, everybody must be given due process,' added Cayosa.
'Kagagawan ho nila 'yung delay eh. So wag naman ho nila gawing rason 'yan para i-railroad kung ano man ito,' he added.
(The delay was their doing, so they shouldn't use that as a reason to railroad whatever this is.)
According to Cayosa, the senators should also not worry about the trial carrying over to the 20th Congress.
''Yun ho ang sinasabi ng Constitution, 'yun ho ang sinasabi ng jurisprudence, at 'yun ho ang sinusunod ng ibang impeachment courts na kagaya ng ating istraktura sa Pilipinas,' he said.
(That's what the Constitution says, that's what jurisprudence says, and that's what other impeachment courts similar to our structure in the Philippines also follow.)
On Monday night, Senate President Francis Escudero took his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court in the trial of the Vice President.
The rest of the senators are expected to take their oaths as senator-judges in the impeachment trial at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. —Joahna Lei Casilao/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
