Manila Rep. Joel Chua Speaks on House Process over VP Sara Duterte Impeachment
JOEL CHUA – The Manila Representative stressed that the questions over the impeachment process of Vice President Sara Duterte must come from the defense team and not a senator-judge.
Recently, with an 18-5 voting, the Senate moved to return the articles of impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. The decision came after the Senate President and all the senators swore in and formed an impeachment court.
On the 18-5 voting of the Senate to return the articles of impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero clarified that the case is not dismissed nor terminated. He also stressed that the senators did not vote over the one-year ban rule on the impeachment nor the interest of the 20th Congress.
According to Escudero, the return of the articles of impeachment is a chance for the prosecution team to answer the questions. Following the move of the Senate, Manila Rep. Joel Chua who is one of the members of the prosecution team in the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte stressed that there was nothing wrong with the process of the House.
Based on a report on GMA News, Manila Rep. Joel Chua stressed that they followed all the rules. He also emphasized that their impeachment move continues and they are set to have a meeting about their next move.
“Wala pong mali. Lahat po ng nasa rules ay sinunod po namin. Sa ngayon kami ay naninindigan na ito ay nanda-dyan pa rin at tuloy pa rin. Mamaya po paguusapan namin kung ano po mga hakbang ang susunod na gagawin po namin,” he said.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua also stressed that it must be the defense team that is questioning the impeachment complaint against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and not a senator-judge. Based on the report, he also raised the “presumption of regularity”.
“Alam po ninyo ang dapat nag kwe-question niyan defense, hindi po ‘yung senator-judge,” the Manila solon said.
Eighteen (18) senators voted in favor of returning the articles of impeachment to the House. Only Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel and senators Risa Hontiveros, Sherwin Gatchalian, Nancy Binay, and Grace Poe opposed the motion filed by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano. Sen. Koko Pimentel admitted that he’s sad over the remand of Duterte’s impeachment.