Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor, a House impeachment prosecutor, yesterday said he expects further delay in the impeachment process of Vice President Sara Duterte.
He said the oathtaking of senators as judges in an impeachment court may be pushed back, following the postponement by Senate President Francis Escudero of the reading of impeachment charges from June 2 to June 11.
“In the original schedule, the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment was supposed to be on June 2. It would have been read. And the senators were supposed to take their oath as judges on June 3 or the next day,” Defensor said.
“But if we move the presentation of the Articles to June 11, the next day would be a holiday because of Independence Day. We would likely be delayed,” he added.
Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, meanwhile, said House members would await the June 11 presentation of impeachment charges against Duterte by the prosecution team.
“The Senate said they will take it up on June 11. I think it’s not just us in the House, but the entire nation will be waiting for the Senate’s next step on June 11,” he said.
Acidre said he would rely on the assurance of Senate President Pro-Tempore Jinggoy Estrada that senators would fulfill their constitutional duty to tackle the impeachment complaint.
The Tingog stalwart emphasized that the trial’s progress is an issue involving the integrity of the country’s democracy.
“Because in truth, this is not just a matter of politics, not just about who the accused is. This is about the integrity of our democracy. If we can’t, if we keep postponing the only option available to hold our public officials accountable, then we’re not sure what kind of democracy we’re becoming,” he added.
Defensor clarified that what would adjourn on June 11 is the Senate as a law-making body, and not as an impeachment court.
“So what will adjourn, sine die only, is the legislative power of our Senate under their Senate Rules of Procedure. The impeachment trial is a different process. It’s not a legislative action, not a legislative exercise of legislative power,” he said.
Defensor stressed that the trial could cross over to the incoming 20th Congress and could be continued until a final judgment is rendered.
He expressed hope that the actual trial of Duterte would still begin on July 30, as earlier announced by Escudero. A pushback in the schedule would further delay the impeachment process.
“According to our Senate President’s calendar, the formal trial is still on July 30. Okay, let’s accept that the reading of the Articles of Impeachment has been delayed. Especially as a lawyer or prosecutor, we accept the decision of this trial court. What we don’t want is for the actual trial date to be pushed further, so this process won’t be delayed anymore,” he said.
Defensor agreed with the Senate President’s decision to reset the presentation of impeachment charges to June 11 to give way to the legislative agenda of the Senate.
However, he emphasized that legislative work should give way to the process of exacting accountability on the part of the Vice President through impeachment.
“It’s right that we finish our pending legislative matters, especially priority bills. But hopefully, our senators understand that impeachment is the most important and highest form of trial in our country.”
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline: “Further delays in VP impeachment trial likely—House”
