Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is to blame for the delay of the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, complainants said on Tuesday, June 3.
Senate President Chiz Escudero postponed the reading of the Articles of Impeachment from June 2 to June 11, the last session day before Congress’ sine die adjournment, to give way to priority legislation.
Some of the complainants attributed the delay to Marcos’ remark that he is open to reconciling with the Dutertes.
“The sitting president sends signals to indicate that he is against the impeachment process. Bakit ba siya nagme-meddle dito? Dahil ba may mga isyu din siya na ayaw niya maungkat?” Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel said in a press conference.
[Translation: Why is he meddling here? Is it because he has issues he does not want to be exposed to?]
“Walang pinapakitang interes ang pangulo na maimbestigahan at malitis ang isang napakalaking issue o kaso ng korapsyon,” said Renato Reyes, president of progressive group Bayan. “What does that say of the president and what signal does that make or create among the different branches of government?”
[Translation: The president does not show any interest in investigating and trying a huge issue or corruption case.]
For former lawmaker Liza Maza, Marcos may fear exposure to the use of his own confidential funds.
“Napakalinaw na takot na takot din si Presidente Marcos sa kahihinatnan ng impeachment na ito dahil siya ay marahil tumitingin sa hinaharap na baka sa katapus-tapusan ay mangyari din ito sa kanya,” Maza said.
[Translation: It is clear that President Marcos is very afraid of what the impeachment result would be as it might also happen to him.]
Escudero has previously denied influence from Malacanang that led to the impeachment proceeding postponement.
Clamor to start trial
Impeachment complainants pushed the Senate to convene as an impeachment court and commence the trial.
ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro and Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña questioned the delay.
“Sino ba ‘yung pinoproteksyunan mo?… Taumbayan ba o si Sara Duterte?” Castro asked senators. “Pakita n’yo na kayo ay maglilingkod sa taumbayan at hindi sa iisang tao o pamilya.”
[Translation: Who are you protecting? The public or Sara Duterte? Show that you are serving the public and not just one person or family.]
“Every day of delay sends the message that the Senate leadership is either afraid of Vice President Duterte, or worse, actively protecting her,” Cendaña said.
Crossing the 20th Congress
Bayan Muna chairman and lawyer Neri Colmenares said the impeachment trial may cross over to the 20th Congress.
Senator Francis Tolentino earlier urged the dismissal of the case due to time constraints as the issue might not be discussed in the 19th Congress.
READ: Impeachment trial in limbo, fate in 20th Congress hangs
“‘Unless the Senate provides otherwise, it shall continue in session from day-to-day until final judgment has been rendered.’ So, walang sinabi na until mag-adjourn sine die kayo [it did not say until you adjourn sine die],” Colmenares said.
He noted a trial is not part of legislative function and may proceed to the next Congress.
The impeachment case has been languishing in the Senate for almost four months.
In February, the House of Representatives transmitted the articles of impeachment to the Senate. It stated graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, and other high crimes as grounds for impeaching Duterte.
