Sen. Bato dela Rosa Speaks on Impeachment Case of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte
BATO DELA ROSA – The known Duterte-ally Senator asserted that there is no need for debates over the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Some complainants behind the previous impeachment case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte appealed the decision of the Supreme Court. Prior to the opening of the 20th Congress, the high court previously declared the articles of impeachment against Duterte as “unconstitutional”.
According to the Supreme Court, the impeachment complaint against the Vice President did not follow the one-year rule in the Philippine Constitution. It also found that the Vice President was denied of her rights to due process. Meanwhile, the court clarified that the ruling does not dismisses the charges filed against the Vice President.
The Supreme Court ruling is “immediately executory” but a motion for reconsideration may be filed. The House of Representatives made a move and urged the Senate to wait for the decision of the court on the appeal before deciding whether or not to dismiss Duterte’s impeachment case.
Previously, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada claimed than 20 senators are poised to abide by the Supreme Court ruling over Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment case. However, there are also senators who believe that the trial should push through.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros will block all motions seeking to dismiss the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. According to her, it will be a “premature” move to decide on whether or not to junk the impeachment case against the Vice President as the pieces of evidence have yet to be presented. She affirmed that she is ready for debates.
However, Sen. Bato dela Rosa believes otherwise. Based on a post on News5, during a press interview, the former PNP Chief turned Senator believes that there is allegedly no need for debates as the Supreme Court has spoken.
“Nag-desisyon na ang Supreme Court bakit mag debate pa tayo. Sa akin, hindi ako lawyer, as I’ve said pero naniwala ako that nobody is supreme and above the Supreme Court except God,” he said.
Sen. Bato dela Rosa recognized that the judiciary and legislative branches in the government are co-equal but also expressed his claim that the Supreme Court is allegedly the ones that interpret the Constitution to address all legal and constitutional questions.
Meanwhile, based on the post, Sen. Bato dela Rosa assured that he will listen to the sides of his four (4) colleagues in the Senate who believe that the impeachment trial of the Vice President must be pushed through. Previously, after the opening of a Senate session, Sen. Bato dela Rosa prayed that the senators will not be ruled by biases and alliances over the impeachment case versus Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.