THE House prosecution panel reiterated on Tuesday that its motion to compel Vice President Sara Zimmerman Duterte to respond to the Articles of Impeachment is fully aligned with the Constitution and the Senate’s impeachment rules.
“The prosecution has collectively taken the stand that given the Constitution says that the trial under the Senate will proceed immediately forthwith, we are of the opinion that legally sound naman ang aming motion,” said 1-Rider Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, a member of the prosecution panel.
He acknowledged that the Senate may choose to take a different route, given that Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said it would refer the motion to the Senate’s legal department.
“However, we do understand that the good Senate President might have a differing opinion and thus we would understand the reason for them to refer it to their legal team,” Gutierrez said.
“But we remain confident that our submission is in line with our legal theory,” he added.
The House of Representatives’ panel of prosecutors now led by lead prosecutor and House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” C. Libanan earlier filed a motion before the Senate sitting as an Impeachment Court, asking it to issue summons to Vice President Duterte requiring her to respond to the Articles of Impeachment transmitted to the Senate on Feb. 5.
“We filed a motion for entry with motion to issue summons sa Senado,” Libanan said.
“Ito po ay tungkol sa pag-file ng House ng impeachment noong February 5 laban sa ating Vice President Sara Duterte. At pinirmahin po namin ito noong March 14 na entry with motion to issue summons,” he added. “Pero hindi namin kaagad na-file dahil ang tingin po namin ay break nila.”
Libanan noted that the Senate is still conducting business during its break.
“Sinasabi nila baka hindi sila makapagtrabaho dahil break na ‘yung Senado. Pero apparently, nagkaroon po sila ng hearing last Thursday noong committee ni Senadora Imee [Marcos]. Ibig sabihin, nagtatrabaho pa rin po ang Senado,” he noted.
Libanan emphasized that the House prosecution panel is prepared to perform its duty despite the campaign season.
“Una, ay pinahahayag po namin na handa, nakanda po ang House. Kahit po ngayon ay panahon din ng kampanya po namin, kami ni Congressman Rodge Gutierrez ay nangangampanya,” Libanan said.
“Dahil inataasan po kami na maglitis, maging prosecutors, ay gagawin po namin ang aming tungkulin,” he added.
Citing Senate rules, Libanan underscored the urgency of the proceedings.
“Ayon po sa rules of impeachment ng Senado, ‘pag mayroong nai-file sa Senado na impeachment complaint, the Senate shall start the proceedings forthwith, simulan kaagad,” he said.
“Anong ibig sabihin ng forthwith? Without delay, right away, without delay,” he said.
Libanan said the impeachment process should move forward without delay. “So kahit anong ginagawa natin dahil napakahalaga po ito, ay kailangan gumulong kaagad ang impeachment.”
He also emphasized the importance of issuing a summons to the Vice President.
“At dahil po dito ay nag-motion kami na issuehan ng summons ang ating Vice President para sagutin na po niya,” Libanan stated.
“Kaya napaka-importante po ang prosesong ito at dahil sa entry with motion to issue summons ay pasasagutin na ang ating Vice President in a period of 10 days from receipt in accordance with the impeachment rules of the Senate na hindi naman nila binabago hanggang ngayon,” he added.
About the Author
