Akbayan Party, Other Civil Society Groups Call on Senate to Follow Constitution over Duterte Impeachment Trial
Civil Society groups are set to conduct a 3-day protest calling for the immediate start of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
While the delay of her impeachment trial did not affect her as per Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, several Filipinos were left disappointed over the decision of the Senate. The upper chamber moved the proceedings in line with the impeachment trial of Duterte to a later date.
Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero previously announced that the reading of the articles of impeachment by the House of Representatives’ prosecution team will be moved from June 2 to June 11. According the Senate Chief, they will prioritize their legislative agenda before the 19th Congress adjourns.
The announcement of Escudero elicited different reactions from the Filipinos including his fellow lawmakers in the Senate. Sen. Koko Pimentel cited the need to ask the SP on the delay of the impeachment process against Duterte while Sen. Bato dela Rosa, a known ally of the Duterte family, want the impeachment moves junked.
Several civil society groups gathered outside the Senate building following the postponement of the Duterte impeachment process. Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero previously defended the delay in the impeachment process saying it allegedly did not favor any party. He also stressed that the farthest that they can do in the 19th Congress is issue a summons to the Vice President.
Furthermore, the Senate President stressed that the 19th and 20th Congress are not binding, thus, the next set of legislators may allegedly decide not to push through with the trial. He stressed that the decision is not solely from the Senate chief but the “Senate plenary”.
Amid the different opinions on the impeachment process against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte, based on a report on ABS-CBN News, several civil society groups are set to conduct a 3-day protest calling for the immediate start of the impeachment trial against the Vice President. They are calling on the Senate to uphold the Constitution.
“Pupunta tayo sa Senado para iparinig sa ating senators na ang mamamayan ay klaro ang mensahe na dapat sundin ng Senado ang konstitusyon,” Akbayan Party Pres. Rafaela David said.
Based on the report, the Akbayan leader further stressed that the Senate allegedly disobeyed the Constitution by not doing their constitutional duty. She also emphasized that the call for justice should not end with the Congress.
“Klaro na ang bibliya ng ating bansa ay ‘yung ating Saligang Batas at dini-disrespect ito ng Senate by not doing their constitutional duty… Klaro na dapat tuloy-tuloy siya kasi the call for justice should not end in Congress,” David said.
Previously, Escudero claimed that the Senate must vote on whether or not they will convene as an impeachment court. A recent survey of the OCTA research showed that 78% of the Filipinos want the impeachment trial against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte to push through.