The Senate on Monday formally convened as an impeachment court and ordered the issuance of a writ of summons to Vice President Sara Duterte, setting in motion the chamber’s constitutional duty to hear the Articles of Impeachment filed against her.
Clad in traditional Oxford crimson robes, 23 senators – Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa remained absent after fleeing the premises Thursday dawn – took their respective oaths to serve as senator-judges for the duration of the upcoming trial.
“The court having been organized, and the Articles of Impeachment having been presented, let a writ of summons be issued to the Vice President, Sara Zimmerman Duterte,” Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano said.
‘We will comply’
Duterte’s camp said it will file the “appropriate response” amid the order for the issuance of the summons.
“We will comply and file the appropriate response in accordance with the Constitution and applicable rules,” lawyer Michael Poa said.
Poa said the defense team would refrain from further comments for now out of respect for the process.
Duterte, the first Philippine official to be impeached for a second time in a row, is accused of graft, corruption, bribery and an alleged assassination threat against former ally President Ferdinand Marcos.
Palace: Hold accountable those who should be held accountable
Malacañang, for its part, said it is up to the Senate to conduct a fair impeachment trial against the Vice President even as it emphasized that public officials facing allegations must ultimately be held accountable.
“We know that the impeachment trial is the work and mandate of the Senate. The President does not need to interfere with the said mandate of the Senate because we have the so-called separation of powers,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.
“What we should always remember, not only the Senate and senators, but we Filipinos ourselves – those who should be held accountable, according to the President, should be held accountable,” she added.
11-member prosecution panel
The 11-member House prosecution panel, with House Committee on Justice chairperson Gerville Luistro as lead public prosecutor, formally entered its appearance before the Senate Impeachment Court.
“The undersigned members of the House of Representatives, duly elected by the House of Representatives as members of the prosecution panel, respectfully enter their appearance as Public Prosecutors,” the panel’s pleading read.
Rounding up the panel as public prosecutors are Reps. Terry Ridon (Bicol Saro), Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez (1-Rider), Ysabel Maria Zamora (San Juan City), Lorenz Defensor (3rd District, Iloilo), Jose Manuel Diokno (Akbayan), Leila de Lima (Mamamayang Liberal), Arlene Bag-ao (Dinagat Islands), Jonathan Keith Flores (2nd District, Bukidnon), Lordan Suan (1st District, Cagayan de Oro), and Joel Chua (3rd District, Manila).
Impeachment trial rules
Cayetano, for his part, directed Duterte to file her answer within a non-extendable period of 10 days from receipt of the summons.
Pursuant to Article VII of the impeachment trial rules, Cayetano also directed Duterte to appear before the Senate session hall “upon notice.”
The Senate Sergeant-at-Arms was ordered to serve the written summons on the Vice President, together with a copy of the Articles of Impeachment.
Cayetano said the prosecution may file its reply within a non-extendable period of five days from receipt of Duterte’s answer.
He also said parties may file pleadings and annexes in person or through electronic mail, while other pleadings, motions and similar papers intended for the consideration of the impeachment court may be filed electronically.
House leaders, Church to senators: Perform duty with dispatch
Lawmakers led by impeachment prosecutor and Bicol Saro party-list Terry Ridon welcomed the convening of the Senate as an impeachment court yesterday.
“The House prosecution panel will comply with all orders, directives, and processes of the impeachment court, and we are ready to present the evidence before the impeachment court in the coming days,” Ridon said.
The Makabayan bloc, composed of Reps. Antonio Tinio of ACT Teachers, Sarah Elago of Gabriela and Renee Co of Kabataan said the Senate action “is a necessary constitutional step toward accountability, and we expect the Senate to perform its duty with seriousness and dispatch.”
“We call on Vice President Duterte to promptly submit her answer to the articles of impeachment and to fully recognize the jurisdiction of the Senate impeachment court. There should be no more dilatory tactics, no attempts to evade or question the legitimacy of the process, and no political maneuvers to delay the presentation of evidence and the start of the trial. Let’s get it on,” the lawmakers said.
Catholic bishops and church leaders also called on the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial without delay.
In a statement signed by 165 bishops, priests, and church leaders nationwide, members of Caritas Philippines appealed to senators to fulfill their constitutional duty and convene as an impeachment court without delay.
“We appeal to the Members of the Senate to abide by what the Constitution directs: to proceed with the trial and…adhere to the rule of law and serve the common good in the pursuit of justice and truth,” the statement read.
