Sen. Risa Hontiveros Speaks on Impeachment Trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte
RISA HONTIVEROS – The Senator is urging Senate President Chiz Escudero to call an all-senator caucus over the Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.
Countless Filipinos were surprised when the House of Representatives approved the impeachment of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Two-thirds of the lawmakers in the lower chamber made the approval in the fourth impeachment complaint filed against Duterte.
Prior to the fourth impeachment complaint filed against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, there were individuals coming from different walks of life that filed three (3) impeachment complaints against the Vice President citing issues like the Confidential Funds spending. The Vice President is being repeatedly questioned about the spending of the Confidential Funds of the Office of the Vice President (OVP) and the Department of Education (DepEd) when she was the education secretary.
Presidential son and Ilocos Norte 1st District Representative Sandro Marcos was one of those who signed the impeachment of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Currently, countless people await what is going to happen next as it is the time for the Senate to make a move on the matter.
There were calls for the Senate to speed up the start of the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Previously, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero said that the upper chamber will not force the Vice President to attend the hearing unless it is really needed.
Recently, Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed her support to Sen. Koko Pimentel’s stand over an all-senator caucus regarding the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Based on a report on PhilStar, Hontiveros urges Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero to call a Senate caucus to discuss the matter.
“In my opinion, based on what Senator Koko (Pimentel) is saying and my understanding of what is discussed in the Constitution, there is nothing stopping us from tackling the Articles of Impeachment and acting as an impeachment court,” the Senator said during the Kapehan sa Senado Forum.
Sen. Pimentel previously stressed that the Constitution mandates the immediate commencement of the impeachment trial whether or not the Senate is in session. Based on the report, Sen. Grace Poe is hoping that the senators will have the chance to discuss the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte through an all-senators caucus.
“SP [Escudero] mentioned that it might be scheduled for June when sessions resume, but I believe it’s possible to hold it earlier than June, Poe said.
Previously, following the release of the decision of the House of Representatives, a congressman expressed his apology for signing the impeachment complaint against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.