Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s Lawyers Ready To Face Charges vs. VP
SARA DUTERTE’S LAWYERS – The Vice President’s legal counsels released a statement on the impeachment process against their client.
While it was also unexpected that the impeachment proceedings was postponed by the Senate, countless Filipinos were also left surprised when Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero took his oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court in the trial against Duterte on Monday night. Prior to it, opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros announced that the Senate Minority will take a move.
Hontiveros stressed that she and Senate Minority leader Koko Pimentel will move so Escudero can take his oath. The Senator believes that the presentation of the articles of impeachment will also not take much time. On Monday eve, the Senate Minority pushed through with their plan.
The Senate also adopted the motion of Sen. Joel Villanueva that the rest of the senators will take their oath as senator-judges of the impeachment court. However, the impeachment court has yet to convene. Recently, amid the uncertainty as to whether or not there will be a trial, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s lawyers issued a statement.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s lawyers said they received several requests for a comment regarding the calls on the Senate to immediately start the impeachment trial. Based on a report on GMA News, the deans of Ateneo schools, the University of Santo Tomas, the Lasallian Family, the Ateneo Schools of Government, and the Adamson University have joined the call.
In their statement, the legal counsels of the Vice President said they deem it proper not to speak on the matters that are exclusive and internal to the Senate but they maintain their stand that the ‘initiation of the impeachment process suffers serious constitutional infirmities’.
Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s lawyers stressed that the impeachment process must not be used as a political tool. Based on the report, regardless of whether the trial will push through or not, the legal team of the Vice President said they are ready to face the accusations against their client.
“The impeachment process must never be weaponized to harass, silence, or eliminate political opponents. It is a constitutional mechanism, not a political tool. Nevertheless, should the Senate choose to proceed, we stand ready to confront the charges,” Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s lawyers said.
Amid the issue, a known Duterte ally, Sen. Robin Padilla, reiterated his loyalty to the Duterte family. He even filed a resolution seeking for the dismissal of the impeachment case versus Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.