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LABAG sa 1987 Constitution ang pag-aantala ng impeachment trial laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte, ayon sa dalawang kongresistang bahagi ng 11-member prosecution panel ng Kamara.
Sa isang bulong-balitaan, nilinaw nina House Deputy Speaker Lorenz Defensor (Iloilo) na nirerespeto ng mababang kapulungan ang pasya ng pamunuan ng Senado na ipagpaliban sa Hunyo ang pagdinig ng Senado sa prosesong kalakip ng pagpapatalsik sa pangalawang pangulo sa pwesto
“Since the Constitution provides that trial shall ‘proceed forthwith,’ if we interpret ‘forthwith (immediately, right away),’ dapat po sana as soon as possible ‘yun,” wika ni Defensor,
“But since the Senate is an independent body and we respect their independence, (Congress) being a bicameral legislature, we will leave that to the interpretation of the Senate,” dugtong ng abogadong kongresista.
Partikular na tinukoy ni Defensor ang Section 3 (4) Article XI (Accountability of Public Officers) ng 1987 Constitution — “In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by 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.”
“Kung tatanungin po ninyo kung June na magbubukas at magco-convene ang Senado as an impeachment court dahil na kakapusan ng oras, tatawid po ba ito sa susunod na Kongreso? It is possible and yes we will leave it to the Senate and to the rules of the impeachment court,” pahayag pa ng Iloilo lawmaker.
“Kakaiba po itong proseso and it’s not part of the legislative process. Nasa Senado po yan how they interpret that and since it is not part of the legislative process, pwede po natin sabihin they can convene anytime that they are ready without waiting for the session to open on June 2,” aniya pa.
Nanindigan naman ni 1-Rider partylist Rep. Rodge Gutierrez ng maaaring ituloy ang impeachment process partikular ang paglilitis sa bise-presidente dahil na rin sa malinaw na probisyon sa ilalim ng umiiral na Saligang batas.
“It’s ‘sui generis’, a special instance of a constitutionally mandated function of Congress,” giit ni Gutierrez, na isa ring abogado.
“As we speak, the House leadership is already preparing the impeachment secretariat so we will be prepared. If ever the Senate does indeed interpret that they could proceed with trial as early as March, we will be ready. If they decide that it will continue after June 2, we will be even more ready,” dagdag niya.
Ganito rin ang punto ni Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong ng Lanao del Sur , na sinabing ang eleksyon sa Mayo at ang posibilidad na isa o dalawang miyembro ng House prosecution panel ay hindi makasama sa darating na 20th Congress ay hindi dapat makaapekto sa impeachment trial.
“Kung meron po tayong isang kasamahan sa House of Representatives na hindi papalarin at hindi makakatuloy sa 20th Congress, if the Senate Rules on Impeachment will provide that private prosecutors can participate during the impeachment trial, then maybe they can continue as private prosecutors,” aniya.
Sa ganitong sitwasyon, sinabi ni Gutierrez na maaaring palitan ng House ang natalong miyembro ng prosecution team.
Sinabi rin ni Defensor na ang pagsisimula ng impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte sa lalong madaling panahon ay makabubuti para sa hustisya at due process.
“So, sana po maagapan ang pagsisimula kasi the sooner that the evidence could be laid down, the sooner that due process can be exercised, the sooner the issues pending before us can be resolved. So, sige po, sana po maagahan dahil handa naman ang prosecution team,” aniya.
“This is the perfect opportunity for all parties, especially the Vice President. This is the perfect opportunity for her to be given due process, for a chance to lay down the evidence in her favor and to clarify things during the trial,” dagdag niya.
“I hope that this will be a good opportunity for evidence to be presented by both sides para matapos na po ang mga alegasyon at mabigyan ng liwanag ang sambayanan.” (ROMEO ALLAN BUTUYAN II)
