THE Senate impeachment court has ordered Vice President Sara Duterte to attend the start of her trial on Monday.
Senate President and Presiding Officer Sherwin Gatchalian issued the summons to either personally appear or be represented by legal counsel. The impeachment case stems from a House of Representatives investigation that consolidated several impeachment complaints into four articles. The charges allege misuse and irregular liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential and intelligence funds allocated to the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary; amassing unexplained wealth and failure to properly disclose assets; bribery and corruption; and threats to kill President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and former House speaker Martin Romualdez. The vice president has denied all allegations, maintaining that they are politically motivated. If convicted on at least one article of impeachment, Duterte would be removed from the Office of Vice President and could also be permanently disqualified from holding any public office in the future. If acquitted, Duterte would remain in office and continue serving the remainder of her term. During a caucus on Friday, senators, who will be sitting as judges in the trial, discuss logistical and procedural matters. Sen. Panfilo Lacson opined that Duterte’s trial has to be presided over by a lawyer, suggesting Francis Escudero or Francis Pangilinan. Gatchalian is not a lawyer. Neither the Constitution nor the Senate rules prescribe a fixed period within which an impeachment trial must be completed. The duration of the trial will depend on several factors, including the presentation of evidence, examination of witnesses, resolution of procedural motions and deliberations of the impeachment court. Senate officials have indicated that the trial may extend for several months, although no legal deadline exists. Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano warned that the trial’s fairness could be compromised unless the Supreme Court resolves the dispute over what constitutes a “majority of all members” of the Senate. Cayetano’s bloc filed a manifestation before the Supreme Court on June 30, reiterating its petition questioning the validity of the Senate’s June 3 session, which the minority has described as a “rump session.” In a Facebook livestream, Cayetano said the court’s ruling is necessary to clarify the constitutional requirement on Senate voting. “This is not about the Senate Presidency. This is about the constitutional order. It is about the numbers, but it is also about the moral boundaries and the law. What is the ‘majority of all members’?” Cayetano said. He rejected claims that his bloc was attempting to delay the trial. Under the Constitution, conviction in an impeachment trial requires the concurrence of at least two-thirds of all members of the Senate, or 16 votes. The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it is deploying 6,000 officers to secure the Senate when the trial begins on Monday. During a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Friday, PNP spokesman Col. Allen Rae Co said the PNP will be “conducting a final coordinating conference among all units for the final preparation of a security plan.” The Senate also announced that roads around the Senate complex will be temporarily closed beginning Monday. Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. said the measures were adopted following an interagency security coordination conference to ensure public safety, maintain order and facilitate the uninterrupted conduct of the impeachment proceedings. Under the advisory, Diokno Boulevard, both northbound and southbound lanes from Seaside Boulevard to Atang dela Rama Street, will be closed on days when the trial is in session.
