Senator Ronald Dela Rosa yesterday confirmed that he authored a draft Senate resolution seeking to declare the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte as “de facto dismissed.”
“That came from my office. Read the resolution, you’ll understand everything. It’s very self-explanatory, what it says reflects exactly how I feel,” he said.
The resolution argues that the Senate’s inaction on the Articles of Impeachment within 100 days of receipt effectively nullifies the case.
Dela Rosa said he is prepared to stand by the resolution even without assurance of majority support in the Senate.
“Whether or not I get the support of the majority, I am confident that I make a stand as far as this issue is concerned,” he said.
Despite this, Dela Rosa admitted that several senators already expressed their intention to support the resolution should it be filed and that he will be its main author.
The senator noted that the resolution came in response to Senator Francis Tolentino’s manifestation on Monday regarding delays in the impeachment process.
He emphasized that the Constitution mandates the Senate to proceed with an impeachment trial “forthwith” upon receipt of the articles and according to Article XI, Section 3(4) of the 1987 Constitution, the Senate must act on the impeachment trial without delay.
Tolentino warned that the planned presentation of the impeachment case on June 11, just two days before sine die adjournment, raises constitutional concerns.
“Since it appears that we cannot accomplish the same, on account of the delay in starting the trial or other relevant reasons, this Senate, to sit as an impeachment court, has no choice but to terminate the proceedings by virtue of this constitutional deadline and consider this case as dismissed,” he said.
Senator Imee Marcos said that the resolution circulating on social media is “one of the many drafts” she has seen calling for the dismissal of the impeachment.
“Each had a different intention, that one was probably the third version I saw; there were many drafts, all trying to find the most effective and legally sound solution, one without loopholes,” she said.
The Articles of Impeachment were signed by 215 House members before being transmitted to the Senate.
Despite that, the case has not been calendared for trial, with only an initial presentation scheduled days before adjournment.
Meanwhile, Senate President Francis Escudero firmly rejected any notion that the Senate is taking instructions from the House of Representatives.
“We are not subordinates of the House, and I will not act just because the Speaker wants the Vice President impeached. We will do our job according to the law, guided by the Senate’s own judgment, not merely following the will of one person or the other chamber,” he said.
Escudero also clarified that no resolution on the matter had been filed or was pending as of late Tuesday night.
“No such resolution filed nor pending as of last night when I left a little before 10 P.M.,” he said.
