Update on VP Sara Duterte Impeachment Trial
SARA DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT – The Senate confirmed that 16 lawyers have entered their appearance as the defense counsels of the Vice President.
Countless Filipinos were surprised when the Senate returned the articles of impeachment against Vice Pres. Duterte to the House of Representatives. The senator judges approved a motion that raised question on the constitutionality of the impeachment process as well as required a reconfirmation from the 20th Congress.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero clarified that the return of the articles of impeachment against Duterte to the House has no intention to dismiss the case against the Vice President. She was impeached by the lower chamber last February 5 after more than two-thirds of the lawmakers in the House approved her ouster.
Eighteen (18) senators supported the remand of the articles of impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte and only five (5) senators opposed to it. Here are those who said “yes” and those who opposed the motion to return Duterte’s impeachment to the House:
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
Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel and Sen. Risa Hontiveros stressed that there is no concept of return in the legal proceedings. The House of Representatives maintained that the impeachment process followed the rules. The prosecution team assured that they will not stop.
Recently, the Senate impeachment court confirmed that 16 lawyers of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte in her impeachment trial have entered their appearance as her defense counsels. Based on a report on GMA News, the Secretary of the Senate who is now the acting Clerk of Court got the appearance ad cautelam from the Fortun Narvasa and Salazar Law Firm yesterday afternoon.
Based on the report, it was stated in the document that the House of Representatives was given a copy of the notice of appearance but there was a handwritten note that reads, “tender copy, refuse to receive”. here are the lawyers who will defend Vice Pres. Sara Duterte in the impeachment process:
- Philip Sigfrid A. Fortun
- Gregorio Y. Narvasa II
- Sheila C.Sison
- Carlo Joaquin T. Narvasa
- Roberto N. Batungbacal
- Justin Nicol B. Gular
- Lindon Miguel C. Bacquel
- David Ronell M. Golla VII
- Maria Selena Golda R. Fortun
- Clarlaine F. Radoc
- Francesca Marie V. Flores
- Miguel Carlos A. Fernandez
- Michael Wesley T. Poa
- Reynold S. Munsayac
- Mark C. Vinluan
- Ralph B. Bodota
The remand of the articles of impeachment against Duterte is surrounded by several issues. Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel admitted that he’s disappointed over the decision of the Senate. A framer of the 1987 Constitution also said that it is against the rules.
Former Senate Pres. Tito Sotto also called on the senators to following the rules in the impeachment trial. According to him, he learned it from the late former Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago that senator judges should not introduce motions for the spirit of neutrality and impartiality.