Never before has the Senate been in a Catch-22 situation until the divisive impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, the trial for which is losing momentum among the members who make up the current chamber.
The tricky situation arises from the proceedings having a narrow window of less than a month, from 11 June when it is scheduled to start, until 30 June when the 19th Congress ends.
Since the situation is unprecedented, the senators in the 20th Congress, 12 of whom are newly elected, will have to decide whether to allow the trial to cross over from the 19th Congress.
Even the leadership of the current Senate, who will be the trial’s presiding officer, has a clear answer to the prospect of a spillover, stating that it will be up to the plenary, or the entire membership of the Senate, to decide.
Senate President Chiz Escudero is not lost to the possibility that even if the impeachment trial is set in motion, the 20th Congress may decide to set it aside.
“The 19th Congress cannot bind the 20th Congress. The 19th Congress may say that the [impeachment] will carry over, but the 20th Congress can say no and dismiss it,” Escudero conceded.
He tossed the responsibility for figuring out the prospects for a trial to his peers: “You have to understand that in Congress, the plenary is supreme.”
The Senate leader had indicated that the priority for the remainder of the 19th Congress is its legislative work, as urgent measures require approval and the appointment of over 300 government officials needs to be reviewed.
This pragmatic approach is a judgment call to render the potentially divisive political process a low priority.
The Senate, acting as an impeachment court, historically requires weeks or months for hearings, evidence review, and deliberations, which would be difficult to fit in barely three weeks.
For starters, parties to the impeachment would need 10 days to exchange court documents and issue their positions.
In effect, the process would merely divert from measures that address immediate national needs, such as infrastructure, healthcare, and economic recovery.
The most urgent consideration is that the trial of VP Duterte, at this juncture, risks exacerbating political divisions without clear public benefit. Impeachment is inherently a political process, often colored by partisan interests and public opinion.
If the allegations in the articles of impeachment are serious, they deserve a thorough and deliberate process, not a rushed trial.
Alternatively, if the case lacks broad support or compelling evidence, pursuing it could be perceived as a politically motivated stunt, further eroding public trust in Congress.
Setting aside the impeachment process, the Senate will project stability by focusing on governance, reinforcing its commitment to the public good over partisan battles.
The Senate would fall into a political abyss if it bends to the partisan hecklers who are coercing it into holding a trial for a divisive spectacle.
Congress can demonstrate that it prioritizes the public welfare over political brinkmanship, especially in the final days of the current session.
Anyway, the 20th Congress, with a fresh mandate, could always revisit the impeachment of VP Duterte when the time and context are right.
Instead of folding to the divisive forces in the political arena, Congress should stay the course and deliver for the nation.