Sotto gets briefings from justices ‘just in case’ of impeachment trial

Metro Manila, Philippines – Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said has received briefings from justices as part of preparations for a possible impeachment trial.

“I have been briefed by some justices friends because I would want to concentrate on how to be the presiding officer of an impeachment court pagdating sa [when it comes to] rules of evidence at rules on criminal procedures,” Sotto said in an online interview with reporters on Friday, Feb. 6. 

As Senate president, Sotto will serve as presiding officer should an impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte once again reach the Senate. If the President is on trial, the Chief Justice serves as presiding officer. 

Stressing that it is the Senate’s constitutional duty to hear impeachment cases, Sotto said he must be prepared to serve either as presiding officer or as a senator-judge. He added that some of his colleagues may also be making their own preparations.

Sotto said he began receiving briefings about two weeks ago from friends in the judiciary, including two justices from the Court of Appeals and one from the Court of Tax Appeals.

“Naghahanda. Naghahanda talaga. Just in case. There’s nothing wrong kung naghahanda ka at di natuloy, well and good, okay lang. But still, naghahanda kayo because it’s part of the job of the Senate,” he said. 

[Translation: We are preparing — really preparing — just in case. There’s nothing wrong with preparing even if it does not push through. That’s fine. But you still have to be ready because it’s part of the job of the Senate.]

Two impeachment complaints against Duterte were transmitted to House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Thursday, Feb. 5, exactly one year after she was impeached by the House of Representatives. No full-blown trial took place in the Senate due to legal and constitutional issues, and the Supreme Court later declared the Articles of Impeachment submitted by the House as unconstitutional.

Earlier this week, the House Committee on Justice dismissed two impeachment complaints against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., citing insufficiency in substance. The decision, however, remains subject to deliberation in plenary.