Senate impeachment court spox told:`Do not speak for the defense’
The House of Representatives is not picking a fight against the Senate, as it only wants the upper chamber to do its duty and responsibility to jumpstart the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Screengrab from House of Representatives live video
MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is not picking a fight against the Senate as it only wants the upper chamber to do its duty and responsibility to jumpstart the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
This was according to House Spokesperson Princess Abante, who clarified that the chamber is only “emphasizing” what duty they did to initiate the impeachment of the country’s second top leader.
“Wala naman kaming inaaway, kami lang ay ine-emphasize lang namin kung ano ang naging tungkulin namin at nagawa na namin. Hinihintay lang namin na gawin na ng Senado ang kanila namang obligasyon, responsibilidad at tungkulin doon sa saligang batas patungkol sa impeachment proceedings,” said Abante in a press conference on Friday.
(We are not fighting anyone, we are just emphasizing what our duty has been and what we have done. We are just waiting for the Senate to fulfill their obligation, responsibility, and duty in the Constitution regarding impeachment proceedings.)
Earlier, House prosecution panel spokesperson and lawyer Antonio Bucoy accused Senate impeachment court spokesperson and lawyer Reginald Tongol of following the footsteps of “some biased senators” after he allegedly appeared to have “lawyered” for Duterte.
Bucoy particularly criticized Tongol for saying that” if he were the vice president, he would file a motion to dismiss the case.”
READ: Bucoy: Senate impeachment court spokesperson is lawyering for Duterte
The criticism was echoed by Abante, who repeatedly clarified that despite this, they are not picking a fight.
“Hindi kami nanga-away. Siguro din, ang ating spokesperson, huwag din magsalita bilang parang sa depensa. Do not speak for the defense, speak for the impeachment court,” said Abante.
(We are not fighting anymore. Perhaps the spokesperson should not speak on behalf of the defense. Do not speak for the defense, speak for the impeachment court.)
But despite the criticism, Tongol simply explained that he was only answering the scenario-setting questions to him on his experience in litigation.
After hours of deliberation on June 10, the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, decided to remand or return the articles of impeachment against Duterte to the House.
READ: Senate sends back impeachment articles to House for review
The motion, which was made by Senator-judge Alan Cayetano, specifically states that the return of the articles would not dismiss or terminate the case.
Cayetano’s motion seeks that the impeachment articles be returned to the House of Representatives, without dismissing or terminating the case, until such time that:
The House certifies the non-violation of Art. XI, Section 3, paragraph 5 of the Constitution, which provides that “No impeachment proceedings shall be initiated against the same official more than once within a period of one year,” including the circumstances on the filing of the first 3 impeachment complaints;
The House of the 20th Congress has communicated to the Senate that it is willing and ready to pursue the impeachment complaint against Duterte.
Cayetano’s motion prevailed in the court./coa
