Latest news with #Konstitusyon
GMA Network
7 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Senators question 'delayed' start of Sara Duterte impeachment trial
Majority of senator-judges vote on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, in favor of returning the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives. Courtesy: Joseph B. Vidal/OSP Several senators on Friday raised questions regarding the plan to begin the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte on August 4, a week after the 20th Congress begins its first regular session. According to Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, such a proposition may need to be discussed in the plenary to determine the justification for the "delayed" reconvening of the impeachment court to August 4, then senators could vote on it. "Whatever the majorly of the 24 senators will decide, we should follow, but not without manifesting or explaining our votes, if some of us would choose to," Lacson said in a statement. "As a senator-judge, I want to hear or participate in the discussion of any major issue involved in the impeachment process before making a decision because it is a constitutional duty," he added. Meanwhile, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said that he would ask for a clarification regarding the proposed schedule. "In keeping with the Constitutional mandate, dapat walang delay sa [there should be no delay in the] trial proper. The earliest possible time we can convene the better because the Constitution is quite clear that upon receipt of the complaint trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed," he said. Article XI Section 3(4) of the 1987 Constitution states that: "In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed." Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, also called for the start of the impeachment trial "at the soonest possible time," believing that it has been delayed "considerably." Senator Bam Aquino, for his part, expressed readiness should the trial proper begin in August. "Handa na tayong gampanan ang tungkulin at responsibilidad bilang senator-judge," Aquino said. Sa prosesong ito, titiyakin nating mananaig ang ating mga batas at kapakanan ng ating mamamayan." (We are ready to fulfill our duty and responsibility as a senator-judge. In this process, we will ensure that our laws and the welfare of our people will prevail.) The returning senator also disclosed that he has already consulted with lawyers and experts as part of his preparation for the upcoming trial. "Bubusisiing mabuti ang mga ebidensyang ipepresenta, magiging mapanuri, at bukas ang mata at isip sa proseso. Sundin ang Konstitusyon — tuloy ang trial sa August 4," he added. (We will scrutinize the evidence presented, be critical, and be open-minded in the process. We will follow the Constitution—the trial will push through on August 4.) It was Senator Joel Villanueva who revealed that the Day 1 of Duterte's impeachment trial may be on August 4—a week after the fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on July 28. The SONA will be delivered hours after the Senate and the House of Representatives open their first regular session. The House of Representatives impeached Duterte on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. The Vice President is accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. The Senate impeachment court first convened on June 10, with the senator-judges under the 19th Congress voting to return the Articles of Impeachment without dismissing or terminating the case. Duterte had entered a "not guilty" plea in the verified impeachment complaint filed against her, which she called a mere "scrap of paper." — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
09-07-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Solons to Senate: Heed public sentiment, begin impeachment trial now
Several members of the House of Representatives today called on the Senate impeachment court to start the trial against Vice President Sara Duterte, as they agreed with the result of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that 44% of respondents believe the upper chamber is delaying the proceedings. The survey also showed that 22% were undecided, 25% do not believe, and 9% do not know enough. "Malinaw na malinaw 'yung utos ng Saligang Batas na pag naihain na yung verified complaint sa Senado na may pirma ng one-third or at least one-third ng members ng House. Walang ibang puwedeng gawin ang Senado, kundi ituloy na yung paglilitis ng kaso o to conduct the trial forthwith. And that is one thing we've been waiting for, for a long time. Sana mangyari na siya," Akbayan Rep. Chel Diokno, who is expected to join the House prosecution panel, told reporters in an ambush interview. "Matagal na namin sinasabi na kahit anong gawin ng Senado na hindi sumusunod sa utos ng saligang batas ay lumalabag sa ating Konstitusyon. And that is, to me, a very clear conclusion that we have to draw from what's happening because it has been so many months since the verified complaint which is now the Articles of Impeachment have been filed and up to now, there is yet no trial," Diokno added. Another House member shared the same sentiment. "Malinaw na malinaw po na talaga nagkakaroon ng delay, nagkakaroon ng dribbling. Kung ano-anong mga invented technicalities at invented issues ang ginagawa nila. Nakikita yan ng taong bayan kasi ang taong bayan ay gising. Talagang interesado sila sa mga ganyang mga usapin," said ML Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, who is also being eyed as a prosecutor in the trial. The same SWS survey also showed that 32% agreed with the impeachment complaint, 18% were undecided, and 42% disagreed. "Ang masasabi ko naman doon ay hindi po labanan ng surveys o ng ratings, ng popularity. Ang importante kung ano ang inuutos ng Konstitusyon. Matagal na ho tayong naghihintay ng tamang aksiyon ng Senado," de Lima said. A member of the prosecution panel agreed with the results of the survey and said the sentiment of the 44% may have been borne out of frustration from several months of waiting for the trial. "I think with our interpretation of the word forthwith, medyo na-frustrate ang ating mga kababayan that we did not proceed right away to trial. And then when we resumed, I believe that most of the Filipinos were expecting already that there would be a trial and yet hindi rin po natuloy," Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro said. Luistro, however, does not want to impute malice on what is happening in the impeachment court. She stressed that the House panel is ready anytime. "I wish to give them the benefit of the doubt with respect to their intention on all the delays in the impeachment trial. But as to the delay, meron tayong kasabihan: justice delayed is justice denied. But then, as far as the prosecution team is concerned, we remain ready in proceeding to the trial of this impeachment case," she said. Luistro is confident that once the impeachment trial starts, the public, especially those against the impeachment complaint, will change their stand on the issue. "It has been our position and humble submission, we have ample and strong evidence supporting the seven Articles of Impeachment. And we honestly believe that once we are allowed to proceed to the presentation of evidence, a lot of Filipinos will be watching and will be basing their respective position on the evidence that they will be seeing during the trial. That is why it is very important that we proceed to trial," she said. Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña also said the people are waiting to see the evidence against Duterte, thus, the trial should begin. "This delay is not just about people waiting to see the evidence. This is about people expecting the Senate to do its job," he said. Zambales Rep. Jefferson Khonghun said the undecided in the survey want to see the evidence. "Marami pa ring undecided, talagang inaantay pa rin yung gusto nilang mapanood - yung magkaroon ng impeachment trial so hindi tayo pupuwedeng, hindi natin puwedeng panghawakan ang survey na yan kasi napakarami pa rin talagang undecided na talagang gustong mapanood at gustong makita kung ano talaga nilalaman na ebidensya na ipepresenta ng prosecutor," he said. Duterte, commenting on the SWS survey, said those who disagreed with the impeachment complaint are seeing that it is just political persecution, which members of the House debunked. "If they are so confident about the survey, then why are they still pushing for the dismissal of the impeachment case?" Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong said. "Kung walang ebidensya, that is political prosecution. Pero kung may ebidensya, that is a legitimate prosecution. As far as we are concerned, we have ample and strong evidence supporting the Seven Articles of Impeachment," Luistro added.—LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
29-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Diokno, Lacson: Impeachment court cannot junk VP Sara's case by majority vote
The senator-judges cannot junk the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte by simple majority vote based on the Constitution nor should the motion come from them, incoming lawmakers of the 20th Congress Chel Diokno and Panfilo Lacson said Sunday. ''Yun ay wala rin sa Konstitusyon. Wala sa Constitution yung simple majority vote to dismiss impeachment (the simple majority vote to dismiss the impeachment complaint is not indicated in the constitution),' Diokno told Super Radyo dzBB. 'Bawal 'yung moves to convict. Ang oath ng mga senator-judge bilang senator-judge ay dinggin lang ang ebidensya at gawin lang ang paghuhusga kapag nadinig na ang ebidensya (Moves to convict are not allowed. The senator-judges took an oath to look at the evidence and judge when all of the pieces of evidence have been presented),' he added. Diokno made the statement after Senate President Francis Escudero said the Senate impeachment court may vote on the motion to dismiss Duterte's case. Earlier this week, Escudero said the Senate is a collegial body, and as an impeachment court, a decision can be placed through a simple majority vote. Escudero was referring to the constitutional requirement that two-thirds of the members of the Senate impeachment court is needed to convict the impeachable official under trial. 'Katawa-tawa' Meanwhile, incoming senator of the 20th congress Panfilo Lacson shared Diokno's opinion, noting that a motion to dismiss Duterte's case should come from the defense team and not from a senator sitting as a judge presiding over the impeachment proceedings. 'Sa akin, ang senator-judge hindi naman puwedeng mag-move to dismiss kasi judge eh. Saan ka naman nakakita ng huwes siya pa mismo magmo-move to dismiss eh kami rin 'yung made-decide? So, 'yung motion to dismiss mangagaling dapat 'yun sa defense,' Lacson said in a separate Super radyo dzBB interview. (For me, a senator-judge cannot move to dismiss since he is a judge. Where have you seen a judge who moves to dismiss when we're the ones who are supposed to hand down a decision? The motion to dismiss should come from the defense.) 'Ako maliwanag ako dun, hindi pwede mag move o mag submit ng motion to dismiss ang isang senator-judge kasi huwes kami. Hindi lang sa mali kung hindi improper, inappropriate, at katawa-tawa,' he added. (I'm clear that a senator-judge cannot move or submit a motion to dismiss since we're judges. It's not only wrong but also improper, inappropriate and ridiculous.) Duterte's impeachment complaint includes issues surrounding the use of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, and alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao City. The complaint also includes her 'assassination' remarks against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and House Speaker Martin Romualdez. On June 10, the Senate sitting as an impeachment court voted to return to the House of Representatives the articles of impeachment against Duterte without dismissing or terminating them. This came after senator-judge Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa, an ally of the Duterte family, even before the impeachment court convened, moved for the dismissal of the impeachment complaint against the Vice President. —RF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
18-06-2025
- Business
- GMA Network
Palace hopes Senate will listen to business groups on VP Sara trial
Malacañang on Wednesday expressed hope that the Senate would listen to the call of business groups to proceed with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the interest of the Philippine economy. While reiterating that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will not intervene in the impeachment trial, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro said business groups know what's best for the country's economy, so senators should also listen to their sentiments. "Muli, ulitin natin, hindi po kasi manghihimasok ang Pangulo sa proseso sa Senado patungkol po sa impeachment trial. Pero kung iyan po ang nakikita po ng mga nagnenegosyo, investors natin sa Pilipinas, eksperto sila sa mga ganitong bagay, kung ano ang mas makakabuti sa ekonomiya," Castro said in a press briefing. (May I repeat, the President will not intervene in the process of the Senate with regard to the impeachment trial. But, if that's what businessmen and investors see... [it should be recognized that] they are experts in this field and know what's best for our economy.) "So, tandaan natin, ang sabi lamang po ng Pangulo, sundin ang Konstitusyon at ang Rule of Law. So, kung pagpapabilis sa impeachment trial at iyon ang nakikita ng business sector, sana bigyan din po ito ng pansin ng Senado," she added. (So, let's remember, the President said the Constitution and the Rule of Law must be followed. So, if the business sector sees the need to fast track the impeachment trial, we hope the Senate would pay attention to them.) Earlier, the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) expressed its concern over the decision of the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, to return the articles of impeachment against Duterte back to the House of Representatives. "By allowing the trial to proceed, the Senate would affirm its commitment to transparency, accountability, and other principles of Good Governance — giving the prosecution a fair chance to present its case and the defense a full opportunity to respond and clear the respondent's name," the MAP said. "We believe that this matter goes beyond politics — it is fundamentally about Good Governance and the Rule of Law," the MAP said in a statement. In a separate statement, the Makati Business Club said the impeachment trial was a governance issue and a test of public accountability, as well as the Rule of Law. "If we do not follow the rule of law, how can we expect to attract foreign and even local investors to bring in long term investments, which would lead to the creation of jobs?" the MBC asked. "The impeachment trial is meant to present evidence to determine if the charges against the Vice President have basis or not. The Senators, individually, and the Senate, as an institution, will betray public trust and not provide the Vice President with the forum to refute charges if they do not proceed with the impeachment trial," it added. Duterte was impeached by the House on February 5 with more than 200 congressmen endorsing the verified complaint against her. The Vice President stands accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. She has since denied the allegations. The Senate had returned the impeachment complaint against the Vice President back to the House of Representatives, but without dismissing or terminating the Articles of Impeachment. The motion was approved with 18 affirmative, five negative votes, and zero abstentions. — VDV, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
13-06-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
ACT Teachers party-list solons urge Imee, Robin to recuse from impeachment trial
"Well, para sa akin, matagal naman na nating alam na talagang... supporter pa rin ng mga Duterte. Kaya dapat ay mag-inhibit sila as senator-judge doon sa magaganap na trial para doon sa impeachment,' ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said in an interview. The ACT Teachers Partylist today called on Senators Imee Marcos and Robin Padilla to recuse from the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. This developed after Imee Marcos and Padilla went with Sara Duterte to Kuala Lumpur and attended an event with overseas Filipino workers, during which the two senators openly expressed their support for the impeached official. "Well, para sa akin, matagal naman na nating alam na talagang... supporter pa rin ng mga Duterte. Kaya dapat ay mag-inhibit sila as senator-judge doon sa magaganap na trial para doon sa impeachment,' ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro said in an interview. "Mukhang wala na tayong magagawa sa dalawang yan kung ganyan ang mga statement. Hindi pa nagsisimula ang paglalabas ng mga testimony, mga witnesses, mga documents, ay meron na silang predjudgment doon sa impeachment trial, impeachment case,' she added. GMA News Online is trying to get a comment from Imee Marcos and Padilla and will publish their comments as soon as they are available. Castro's party mate, representative-elect Antonio Tinio, echoed the call but said he didn't expect Sara Duterte's allies to recuse from the impeachment trial. 'Dapat talaga mag-inhibit sila. Pero pangungunahan na rin natin na alam natin na hindi naman nila gagawin yon kasi inhibition ay voluntary. At wala tayong ilusyon na mag-iinhibit ang dalawang yan o yung mga senators na openly supportive kay Vice President Sara Duterte,' Tinio said. House Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre of Tingog Partylist said the issue against the two senators, who will be sitting as judges in the impeachment trial, is not only moral and ethical but also goes against the oath they took as public servants. 'It's a moral question. It's an ethical question, yes. But most importantly, it appears to be a betrayal of the oath they took. They did not take an oath; no one, including myself, took an oath to protect one single political leader. We all took an oath to protect the institution, the Constitution,' Acidre said in an interview. ''Yon naman talaga ang trabaho namin. Wala naman kaming trabahong protektahan kahit sinong pulitikko, mataas man o mababa sa amin. Ang trabaho namin ay sundin ang Konstitusyon, na nilabag ng Senado sa usapin ng impeachment,' he added. House Deputy Majority Leader Francisco Paolo Ortega of La Union said it was unethical for a senator-judge to be vocal about their support for the impeached vice president. 'They're still making the obvious very obvious. As a senator judge, dapat impartial ka,' Ortega said. Acidre and Ortega did not join the calls for the Duterte allies to recuse from the impeachment trial. 'The Senate would be the best judge on how to address this issue. In the end, consistent tayo sa ating pananaw that the Senate cannot look into the affairs of the House on how we conduct our proceedings, and only presume regularity of our actions. I'm giving them the same presumption of regularity,' Acidre said. 'It depends sa Senate… Nasa sa kanila yan kasi I cannot speak for them. I can only speak for the House. Siyempre yung context ng pagiging judge, siyempre may dapat… requirement talaga na impartial ka,' Ortega said. –NB, GMA Integrated News
