Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada Speaks on VP Sara Duterte Impeachment Complaint
JINGGOY ESTRADA – The senator recognized that he is not a lawyer but explained his interpretation of VP Sara Duterte’s impeachment case.
The 20th Congress has officially opened. In the Senate, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero won the Senate presidency over Sen. Tito Sotto with a 19-5 voting. The former Senate President who led the chamber in the 18th Congress is now the Senate Minority Leader.
Sen. Joel Villanueva was elected as the Senate Majority Leader while Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was elected as Senate President Pro Tempore. During the absence of the Senate President, the Senate President Pro Tempore should preside over the upper chamber.
Currently, one of the matters that many Filipinos expect the Senate to act on is the impeachment case of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte following the decision of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court declared the articles of impeachment against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte as “unconstitutional”.
Following the first caucus of the senators in the 20th Congress, Senate President Chiz Escudero said the Senate will decide on the Supreme Court ruling of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment case on August 6. He stressed that the senators have agreed to have the discussion at a later date to give everyone “ample time” to study the case.
Ahead of August 6, several senators have already aired their sides on the matter. Sen. Risa Hontiveros confirmed her plan to block all motions that would seek the dismissal of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment case. According to her, she believes that it is still “premature” for the Senate to discuss on the dismissal of the case while the pieces of evidence have yet to be presented.
Hontiveros stressed that there will allegedly be no basis for the dismissal without the evidence. According to her, she is ready for any debate if someone would raise a motion to dismiss the impeachment case against the Vice President.
However, based on a report on ABS-CBN News, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada expressed his belief that 19 to 20 senators are allegedly likely to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court. He cited the body language and sentiments of his fellow lawmakers in the Senate.
“Sabihin natin, to abide by the ruling. Mga 19 to 20… Karamihan ang mga sentimyento ng kapwa senador ko is to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court,” Estrada said.
According to Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, in case the Senate will agree to abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court over the impeachment case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, there will be no more trial. Based on the report, he also stressed that the high court said the Senate has no jurisdiction over the impeachment complaint already because the case is “unconstitutional”.
“If you abide by the ruling of the Supreme Court, technically, it’s tantamount to dismissal. Well I’m not a lawyer pero yun ang interpretation ko ha,” the Senate President Pro Tempore said.
Currently, a resolution seeking for the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to push through is circulating and it gained the support of at least four senators so far.