Sen. Bato dela Rosa Speaks on VP Sara Duterte’s Impeachment Trial
BATO DELA ROSA – The Senator spoke on his side if he will be one of the senator-judges in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The target date of the commencement of the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte is on July 30. However, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero clarified that the proposed timetable for Duterte’s impeachment trial is not set on stone. The lawmakers will still discuss it when the session resumes in June.
Duterte even has a pending petition filed before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the 4th impeachment case against her. Former Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte is one of the lawyers of the Vice President regarding the said petition.
Attorney Michael Poa, the former spokesman of Duterte, also joined the legal team of the Vice President. Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte previously said that his sister, based on his view, is “unbothered” by the impeachment issues. He also stressed that they are ready to fight.
Currently, the Filipino people awaits the move of the Senate over the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. However, as for Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero, there is no urgency to the matter. He assured that his office is working on the review of the rules for impeachment.
Senate Pres. Escudero also welcomed the offer of Sen. Koko Pimentel to help in drafting the rules for the impeachment. Pimentel stressed that there are only five (5) of them in the Senate now who are lawyers and he is willing to devote his time to drafting the rules.
Truth be told that it is no secret to the public that the Dutertes have several allies in the Senate. There are insinuations that the pro-Duterte lawmakers may vote for the acquittal of the Vice President. Senators Bato dela Rosa and Bong Go are two of the senators who are close to the former President and his family.
For his part, Sen. Bato dela Rosa has spoken on the possibility that he will be one of the senator-judges in the impeachment trial of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Based on a report on PhilStar, the former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief turned Senator said he will base his vote on the pieces of evidence that will be presented during the trial.
Citing Senator’s interview with One News for Storycon, Sen. Bato dela Rosa reportedly deflected on the insinuations that he will vote for the acquittal of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte right away. Based on the report, he was also asked on the calls for the senator allies of the Dutertes to inhibit from seating as senator-judges in the impeachment trial.
“In impeachment, we know that that is a political exercise. So political leanings of the sitting senators will be a factor to that. But then again, with respect to the institution where I belong, I have not said anything yet that I will not vote for her conviction,” Sen. Bato dela Rosa said.
Previously, Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua said that Vice Pres. Sara Duterte could be ordered to return the misused public funds if she will be impeached from office.