Despite growing calls for action, most senators remain uninterested in convening a special session to commence impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito said this on Tuesday, stressing that there was no clamor among senators to formally request such a session from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“I haven’t heard anything yet, maybe because half of my colleagues are busy with political campaigns,” he told reporters in a chance interview.
At least seven incumbent senators are seeking reelection in the upcoming May midterm elections, including Senators Imee Marcos, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Pia Cayetano, Francis Tolentino, and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.
Meanwhile, term-limited senators such as Nancy Binay, Cynthia Villar, Grace Poe, and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III are either vying for local positions or taking a break from politics.
To recall, Marcos previously stated that he would be open to calling a special session if senators formally requested it to tackle the impeachment proceedings against Duterte.
Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero earlier said that the Senate would act on the impeachment complaints against Duterte after the State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
According to Escudero, who is also a lawyer, the Senate can only begin impeachment proceedings against Duterte once a plenary session is convened to formally establish the impeachment trial court.
“Legally, it cannot be done. Again, as I said, because the impeachment court was not convened,” he told reporters during the Kapihan sa Senado forum when asked whether the Senate could start an impeachment trial while on break.
“The impeachment complaint was not referred to the plenary, so there is no basis for the impeachment court to be convened by the Senate, which is still sitting as a legislative body and not yet as an impeachment court,” he added.
While noting that special sessions are typically called for the passage of urgent legislative measures, Escudero said the Senate could address the impeachment complaint depending on the decision of the lawmakers.
The Senate adjourned its session last week without tackling the impeachment complaint against Duterte, despite the House of Representatives having already transmitted the articles of impeachment to the chamber.
Pimentel, who is also a lawyer, however, stressed that the Senate must convene into an impeachment court as mandated in the Constitution.
“The Senate’s actions can no longer be considered ‘forthwith.’ In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed,” he said in a statement.
Under Article XI or “Accountability of Public Officers,” the Constitution states: “In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.”