No VP impeachment trial is worst case scenario - House impeachment prosecutor

Metro Manila, Philippines - House impeachment prosecutor and Iloilo Representative Lawrence Defensor warned that any dismissal or deliberate delay of Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial would be the worst possible outcome, calling it a violation of the Senate’s constitutional mandate.

“With all the rumors circulating, I can sense that there is some intentional delay to dismiss the impeachment complaint. It’s a big loss to all Filipinos, not only to the prosecution team,’ said Defensor in an interview on ‘The Newsmaker.’

Asked who stands to gain from a dismissal, Defensor was clear: “Only the Vice President stands to gain from the dismissal of her impeachment complaint. Kung titignan natin ang survey, siyam sa sampu na Pilipino ay sang-ayon na matuloy ang trial regardless of the outcome. We are prepared to accept either acquittal or conviction. Ang gusto lang natin, mailabas at masunod ang konstitusyon at mailabas ang ebidensya. And we leave it up to the senator-judges to decide.”

[Translation: If you look at the surveys, nine out of ten Filipinos agree that the trial should continue regardless of the outcome. We just want the constitution to be followed and the evidence to be presented. And we leave it to the senator-judges to decide.]

Defensor condemned reports of a draft Senate resolution seeking dismissal due to lack of time, calling it unconstitutional.

“If that resolution is true, it is a clear violation of the Constitution. We should not set aside our principles and step on the will of the Filipinos. Importante na matuloy itong trial na ito at walang ibang kondisyon na nakalagay sa ating Constitution… The Constitution is loud and clear that trial shall proceed forthwith with no other condition,” he added.

He also disagreed with outgoing Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino’s assertion that failure to conclude the trial by June 30 would mean a “functional dismissal.”

“Tandaan natin na ang nagtatapos lamang ay ang legislative power ng Senado sa ilalim ng kanilang sariling Senate Rules of Procedure. And because the impeachment is not an exercise of legislative power, ang isang impeachment trial ay dapat tumawid sa susunod na Kongreso because it has its own Senate separate rules of impeachment which provide that trials will continue until final judgment.”

[Translation: Let us remember that only the Senate’s legislative power ends under their own Senate Rules of Procedure. And because impeachment is not an exercise of legislative power, an impeachment trial should cross over to the next Congress because it has its own separate Senate rules which say trials will continue until final judgment.]

Defensor emphasized that the trial must continue into the 20th Congress if necessary. He also expressed his disappointment over the delay.

“While I respect the Senate, I am very disappointed with how this impeachment process is moving in the Senate. The Senate fought hard to avoid any amendment of the Constitution only to delay a constitutional process and avoid taking on this impeachment trial,” said Defensor.