A member of the prosecution panel in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment case echoed representative-elect Leila de Lima of the Mamamayang Liberal (ML) party-list group’s view that the Senate’s inaction violates the 1987 Constitution.
“The inaction to and failure of the Senate to proceed with the impeachment trial is against the Constitution and a betrayal of the people’s will,” Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor told the media in Filipino.
“It is abandonment of the Senate’s duty to exact accountability and sets a bad example to the young and future leaders of our country,” he added.
The deputy majority leader was responding to the statement of De Lima, who will sit as one of the members of the House prosecution panel.
According to the party-list representative, the Senate, under the stewardship of Sen. Francis Escudero, would have violated the Constitution with its apparent and deliberate inaction on the Duterte impeachment case.
“That has always been my position that is very violating of what the Constitution says,” De Lima earlier said.
The Constitution provides that the Senate impeachment trial must be held “forthwith” after the House of Representatives transmits the articles of impeachment.
The House of Representatives had already fulfilled its constitutional duty in February.
“Forthwith is forthwith. It has been delayed multiple times. It has been postponed several times. The House of Representatives and the Senate cannot keep passing the blame… but what is clear is that the Constitution lays it out,” De Lima said.
“For me, at this stage, the impeachment trial, the convening of the impeachment accord, and proceeding with the trial are not optional,” she added.
