Statement of Senator-Elect Bam Aquino on Impeachment Trial of VP Sara Duterte
BAM AQUINO – The Senator-elect broke his silence on the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
The looming impeachment trial against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte has sparked different views. However, the recent move of Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero to postpone the proceedings did not sit well with many people. The Senate Chief moved the reading of the articles of impeachment from June 2 to June 11.
According to Escudero, the upper chamber will prioritize their legislative agenda. However, yesterday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros unveiled the plan of the Senate Minority to request for the opening of Duterte’s impeachment trial — which they did. Sen. Hontiveros and Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel led the move.
On Monday eve, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero took an oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court in Duterte’s trial. The upper chamber also adopted the resolution of Sen. Joel Villanueva that the rest of the senators will take their oath as judges of the impeachment court.
The senators are set to take their oath as judges today while the impeachment court is set to convene on Wednesday. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero maintained that the impeachment trial against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte will start in the 20th Congress saying there is no more time for it in the 19th Congress.
Escudero claimed that the House has filed the impeachment complaint on the last days already. Pres. Bongbong Marcos also said it is clear that Duterte’s impeachment trial will cross the 20th Congress. By that time, a new set of senators will join the existing lawmakers in the upper chamber. One of them is senator-elect Bam Aquino.
Recently, senator-elect Bam Aquino broke his silence on the impeachment trial against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Based on a post on Inquirer, the returning Senator stressed the importance of abiding what the Constitution mandates.
“Mahalagang masunod ang mga alituntunin ng ating Saligang Batas pagdating sa impeachment. Tungkulin ng Senado bilang institusyon na litisin ang kaso at maglabas ng hatol. Ipapakita ng prosesong ito na nakahihigit pa rin ang ating mga batas,” he said.
Senator-elect Bam Aquino also reiterated his readiness for the responsibility of being a senator-judge in Duterte’s impeachment trial. He stressed that the 20th Congress should perform the responsibility of the Senate.
“Handa tayong gampanan ang tungkulin at responsibilidad bilang senator-judge. Binibigyan natin ng karampatang parliamentary courtesy ang 19th Congress sa mga huli nitong araw, pero malinaw na ang 20th Congress ang kinakailangang gumawa ng nararapat nitong tungkulin,” senator-elect Bam Aquino said.
Aquino recalled that he was sat as a judge of the Senate Electoral Tribunal before. Based on the post, he stressed that he is fair and prioritizes the rule of law and the welfare of the country.
Recently, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas tagged the delay in Duterte’s impeachment trial as “a sin”.