Estong Reyes 
WALANG alinlangan na tutugon ang Senado sa mandatong litisin sinumang impeachable officials sa gobyerno sa sandaling isampa ng Kamara ang kaso laban sa pangalawang pangulo.
Ayon kay Senate President Vicente Sotto III, agad na kikilos ang Senado nang walang pagkaantala sa pagtalakay sa Articles of Impeachment laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte.
Katunayan aniya, nakahanda na ang mga senador sa posibilidad na ihain ng Kamara ang kaso sa Mataas na Kapulungan alinsunod sa probisyon sa ilalim ng 1987 Constitution.
Pag-amin ni Sotto, nagpulong na ang ilang miyembro ng mayorya kung saan hinikayat ang mga kapwa mambabatas na magrebyu hinggil sa Rules of Court na siyang sasakop sa opisyal na procedural rules na gagamitin kung paano ihahain, didinggin at pagdedesisyonan ang kaso ni Duterte.
“That was one of the intentions and reasons why I hosted a dinner with some senators to join us. I told them about it, just in case the matter reaches us, it’s better that we’re prepared. We can’t be fumbling, because there may be issues the presiding officer will raise to the body, or objections from members that we should know how to properly address,” ani Sotto.
Tiniyak pa ni Sotto na sakaling maihain ang Articles of Impeachment sa Senado, kikilos ang Mataas na Kapulungan, agad-agad alinsunod sa katagang “forthwith.”
“It is part of the work of the Senate. It is part of the job order. In fact, even the Senate legal team is empowered to prepare with or without an impeachment, so we should be ready. We must always be prepared,” aniya.
“We are simply preparing just in case. Since the possibility is already there, it is part of the Senate’s responsibility. We are empowered to do so, and the relevant offices within the Senate are likewise authorized to prepare. We are merely getting ready to ensure we are not caught off guard or forced into a rush should the House of Representatives transmit the Articles of Impeachment. If no such articles are sent, then that is well and good, and we will return our focus to legislation,” ani Sotto.
Binanggit din ng lider ng Senado ang Code of Judicial Conduct and Accountability.
“I implore my fellow senator-judges to be impartial in and out of the court. In the discharge of duties, a judge shall not only be impartial but must also appear to be impartial,” ani Sotto.
