The Senate of the Philippines will convene as an impeachment court on May 18 to begin proceedings on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte, Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano announced Thursday.
In a letter sent to House Speaker Faustino Dy III, Cayetano said the Senate had formally received the Articles of Impeachment and their annexes following their transmittal by the House of Representatives of the Philippines Wednesday night.
“Pursuant to Rule 1 of the Senate Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Rules, the Senate has taken proper order of the impeachment and shall immediately proceed to its consideration, consistent with its mandate under Article XI, Section 3 of the Constitution,” Cayetano said.
The Senate chief said the impeachment court is scheduled to convene at 3 p.m. on May 18 “or at the soonest possible time” if there are no objections regarding the rules and procedures governing the impeachment process.
Under the process outlined by Cayetano, the Articles of Impeachment will first be included in the Senate’s order of business before referral to the rules committee and eventual presentation to the plenary.
Once convened, Cayetano will first take his oath as presiding officer, followed by the 23 senators who will serve as senator-judges in the impeachment trial.
“After that, our job is to issue the summons,” he said. “And then from that time on, when they have been responded to, the process will already roll.”
Cayetano also said he expects the proceedings to move without delay if senators agree to adopt the existing impeachment rules.
“If everyone agrees on the rules, I don’t see any reason why we won’t convene on Monday,” he said.
The House impeached Duterte on May 11 after 257 lawmakers voted in favor of the impeachment complaint. The articles were formally transmitted to the Senate on May 13 amid heightened political tensions and a lockdown at the Senate linked to the ICC arrest warrant against Sen. Ronald dela Rosa.
BASAHIN SA PILIPINO
Magtitipon ang Senado bilang impeachment court sa Mayo 18
Magtitipon ang Senado bilang impeachment court sa May 18 upang simulan ang paglilitis sa impeachment case laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte, ayon kay Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano nitong Huwebes.
Sa liham na ipinadala kay House Speaker Faustino Dy III, sinabi ni Cayetano na pormal nang natanggap ng Senado ang Articles of Impeachment at mga annex nito matapos itong isumite ng House of Representatives noong Miyerkules ng gabi.
“Pursuant to Rule 1 of the Senate Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Rules, the Senate has taken proper order of the impeachment and shall immediately proceed to its consideration, consistent with its mandate under Article XI, Section 3 of the Constitution,” ayon kay Cayetano.
Sinabi ng Senate chief na nakatakdang magtipon ang impeachment court alas-3 ng hapon sa Mayo 18 “or at the soonest possible time” kung walang magiging pagtutol sa rules at procedures na gagamitin sa impeachment process.
Sa ilalim ng prosesong inilatag ni Cayetano, unang isasama ang Articles of Impeachment sa order of business ng Senado bago ito i-refer sa rules committee at kalaunan ay iharap sa plenaryo.
Kapag nakapagtipon na ang impeachment court, unang manunumpa si Cayetano bilang presiding officer kasunod ang 23 senador na magsisilbing senator-judges sa impeachment trial.
“After that, our job is to issue the summons,” ani Cayetano. “And then from that time on, when they have been responded to, the process will already roll.”
Sinabi rin ni Cayetano na inaasahan niyang hindi maaantala ang proceedings kung magkakasundo ang mga senador na gamitin ang umiiral na impeachment rules.
“If everyone agrees on the rules, I don’t see any reason why we won’t convene on Monday,” dagdag niya.
In-impeach ng Kamara si Duterte noong Mayo 11 matapos bumoto pabor ang 257 mambabatas sa impeachment complaint. Pormal namang inilipat sa Senado ang Articles of Impeachment noong Mayo 13 sa gitna ng tumitinding tensyong pampulitika at lockdown sa Senado kaugnay ng ICC arrest warrant laban kay Sen. Ronald dela Rosa.
