Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero Speaks on Impeachment Case vs. VP Sara Duterte
CHIZ ESCUDERO – The Senate President confirmed that the impeachment court can dismiss the case of Vice President Sara Duterte by simple majority votes.
Currently, it remains a question if Vice Pres. Sara Duterte’s impeachment proceedings will cross over to the 20th Congress. In her Answer Ad Cautelam — Latin for “as a precaution” —, Vice Pres. Sara Duterte sought for the dismissal of the impeachment case against her and stressed that the Senate is allegedly not a continuing body. The Vice President also called the impeachment case “nothing more than a scrap of paper”.
Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives last February 5. Her impeachment document was transmitted to the Senate but it was only a few weeks ago when the Senate convened as an impeachment court. Then, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero maintained that the Senate session is on recess and they follow a legislative calendar.
However, shortly after Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero took his oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court in Duterte’s trial and the rest of the senators taking their oath as senator judges, the Senate impeachment court decided on a motion to return the Articles of Impeachment to the House of Representatives. The motion seeks clarification over the constitutionality of the impeachment of the Vice President as well as a reconfirmation from the 20th Congress.
Eighteen (18) senator judges including the presiding officer voted in support of the motion to remand Duterte’s impeachment to the House. Only five (5) senator judges opposed the motion.
YES
- Alan Peter Cayetano
- Pia Cayetano
- Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa
- JV Ejercito
- Chiz Escudero
- Jinggoy Estrada
- Bong Go
- Lito Lapid
- Loren Legarda
- Imee Marcos
- Robin Padilla
- Bong Revilla
- Francis Tolentino
- Raffy Tulfo
- Joel Villanueva
- Cynthia Villar
- Mark Villar
- Juan Miguel Zubiri
NO
- Koko Pimentel
- Risa Hontiveros
- Sherwin Gatchalian
- Grace Poe
- Nancy Binay
Recently, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero spoke anew on the impeachment case against Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Based on a report on Inquirer, the Senate Chief claimed that the impeachment court can dismiss the impeachment case against Vice Pres. Duterte by simple majority votes or at least 13 votes.
Escudero was also asked if the impeachment case against Duterte can be junked by the Senate impeachment court based on the Vice President’s answer ad cautelam. The Senate president confirmed that it is within the realm of possibilities.
“That’s possible, but I don’t wanna go ahead on what the impeachment court’s decision would be,” the Senate President said.
Based on the report, Senate Pres. Chiz Escudero stressed that “simple majority is needed in all voting”. Two-thirds vote is needed to acquit or convict. The Senate President was also asked if it is possible for an impeachment court to dismiss the case without going through a formal trial.
“Everything is possible,” Escudero said.
Amid the issues, Pres. Bongbong Marcos maintained that he has no role in the impeachment process of Vice Pres. Sara Duterte. Several senators-elect including Erwin Tulfo and Kiko Pangilinan believe that the impeachment trial must proceed.