Sen. Risa Hontiveros Believes Duterte Bloc in Senate Planned the Remand
RISA HONTIVEROS – The opposition Senator stressed that there is no concept of remand or return in the Philippine Constitution following the Senate’s decision to return the articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero made changes on the schedule for the presentation of the articles of impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Initially, it was set last June 2 but was moved to June 11. The decision of the Senate Chief did not sit well with many people.
Last Monday, with the Senate Minority taking the move, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero took an oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court in the trial against Vice Pres. Duterte. The following day, it was followed by the rest of the senators taking their oath as senator-judges of the court.
However, unexpectedly, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano proposed a motion to return the articles of impeachment to the House. In his motion, the lower chamber is required to meet the following:
- The House of Representatives certified to the non-violation of Article XI, Section 3, paragraph 5 of the Constitution, which provides that “No impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within one year; include the circumstances on the filing of the first three impeachment complaints”; and
- The House of Representatives of the 20th Congress communicated to the Senate that it was willing and ready to pursue the impeachment complaint against the Vice President.
With the 18-5 senators voting, the Senate impeachment court approved the return of the articles of impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. No senator abstained from making a vote.
YES
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Pia Cayetano
- Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
- JV Ejercito
- Chiz Escudero
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Bong Go
- Lito Lapid
- Loren Legarda
- Imee Marcos
- Robin Padilla
- Bong Revilla
- Francis Tolentino
- Raffy Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
- Cynthia Villar
- Mark Villar
- Juan Miguel Zubiri
NO
- Koko Pimentel
- Risa Hontiveros
- Sherwin Gatchalian
- Grace Poe
- Nancy Binay
Following the outcome of the voting and the Senate approving the return of Duterte’s impeachment to the House, Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel admitted his disappointment and claimed that there is no concept of “return to sender” in the legal proceedings.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros agrees to the same statement that there is no return in the Constitution. Based on a report on Inquirer, she stressed that the function of the Senate as an impeachment court is put the accused under a trial and make a verdict.
“Wala pong remand o return sa Konstitusyon. Ang obligation natin – try and decide,” Hontiveros said.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros also believes that the Duterte bloc in the Senate might have planned the remand of the articles of impeachment. Regardless, based on the report, she pointed to the decision of the impeachment court.
“Eh hindi naman ito PBA finals. Bakit ginawa yun ng Senado as an impeachment court?” she expressed.
A framer of the 1987 Constitution broke his silence on the remand of Duterte’s impeachment to the House. Atty. Christian Monsod stressed the duty of the Senate.