Statement of OVP Ahead of Senate Deliberation of Sara Duterte’s Impeachment Trial
OVP – The Office of the Vice President assured that their work “is still being done” despite Vice Pres. Sara Duterte being not physically present.
The senators are set to decide today over the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte — weeks after the Supreme Court released its ruling over the impeachment complaint against the Vice President. The high court declared the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte as “unconstitutional”.
According to the high court, the impeachment complaint against the Vice President did not follow the one-year rule in the Constitution. The court also found that the Vice President was denied of her rights for due process.
Several law experts previously claimed that the Senate may push through with impeachment trial of the Vice President despite the ruling of the Supreme Court citing the separation of powers. The House of Representatives also maintained that the “exclusive” power to initiate impeachments still belongs to them.
The House of Representatives and some complainants have filed for a motion for reconsideration to the Supreme Court. Senators Risa Hontiveros and Bam Aquino want the Senate to wait for the ruling of the SC first on the appeal.
A resolution seeking for the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to push through previously circulated in the Senate. It gained the support of senators Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, Tito Sotto, and Kiko Pangilinan. Sen. Risa Hontiveros admitted her plan to block all motions that will seek the dismissal of the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte.
Currently, the Office of the Vice President is mum on the whereabouts of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte hours ahead of the expected time when the Senate discussion over her impeachment trial is expected to start. Based on a report on GMA News, the OVP maintained that the Vice President is doing her job even if she’s not seen in public.
“She may not be here physically, hindi lang natin nakikita, pero yung trabaho na kailangan for the office is still being done,” Atty. Ruth Castelo, the spokesperson of the OVP, said on Wednesday.
According to the OVP Spokesperson, even if Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is not here, “she’s still running the office”. Based on the report, she stressed that all the instructions come from the Vice President herself and Duterte really checks even their public and press releases as well as the posts on social media.
“So that’s how the Vice President is involved, like I said, she may not be here physically, hindi lang natin nakikita pero ‘yung trabaho na kailangan niya nun for the office is still being done. Ano lang, minsan virtual, minsan ghost,” the OVP said.
Recently, known Duterte-ally Sen. Bato dela Rosa expressed his belief that there is no need for debates over the impeachment case of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. It is seemingly a response to Hontiveros’ claim that she is ready for any debate if there is a motion seeking to dismiss the Vice President’s impeachment trial.