By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA —Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III urged his fellow senator-judges to “follow their conscience” and decide based on evidence when Vice President Sara Duterte faces trial, warning that any move to dismiss the case without hearing it would violate the Constitution.
Pimentel said senators have a constitutional mandate to proceed once the House transmits the Articles of Impeachment.
“Maling-mali ‘yun. Legislative body ka, pero gusto mong i-dismiss ang trabaho mo bilang korte? May utos sa amin: mag-trial kayo. Hindi puwedeng maghugas ng kamay at basta na lang i-dismiss kasi mas madali”
That’s absolutely wrong. You’re a legislative body, yet you want to dismiss your duty as a court? We’ve been given a mandate: to conduct a trial. We can’t just wash our hands of it and dismiss the case simply because it’s easier.
He called early dismissal efforts “procedurally and constitutionally flawed” and “unconstitutional”.
Pimentel reminded the public that under the Constitution, 16 guilty votes are required to convict and remove Duterte from office.
“Kailangan 16 talaga ang magsabi ng guilty… ‘Pag hindi tayo maka 16 na nagsabi ng guilty, kasi tumahimik lang ang, not guilty. Not convicted,” he said.
He added there’s no need for senator-judges to inhibit over political bias: “If a senator-judge inhibits, this may even favor Duterte and result in her non-conviction”.
Senators met in caucus Thursday, April 30, to discuss preparations. During the meeting, they were reminded to “remain impartial and act like judges rather than political allies of either side”.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson said: “We must listen to the questions during direct and cross-examination, and base our decisions on the evidence”.
The minority bloc — including Senators Robin Padilla, Rodante Marcoleta, Imee Marcos, Bong Go, and Bato dela Rosa — boycotted the caucus. Only Padilla attended and was tasked to relay developments to the group.
ia/xf
