Metro Manila, Philippines – The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte is proceeding in accordance with the Constitution, with no apparent basis for Supreme Court intervention at this stage, said former Supreme Court Justice Adolfo Azcuna, one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution.
In an interview on The Newsmaker, Azcuna said the impeachment proceedings should continue unless the court stops it.
“Unless there is a TRO (temporary restraining order), the trial is presumed legal and has to proceed,” he said. Azcuna said he sees no constitutional issue that justifies intervention by the high court.
“I cannot really predict what the Supreme Court will do, but so far, from my point of view, there is nothing that would justify at this point for the Supreme Court to intervene in the proceedings,” he said.
He said that based on how the proceedings have unfolded, the trial is lawful.
“I am very happy that so far it would seem that the Constitution is being followed,” Azcuna said.
Lawyers allied with Duterte continue to challenge the legality of the impeachment proceedings with the high court, including the authority of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero to preside over the Impeachment Court.
Azcuna said the issue of who presides over the trial is an internal matter for the Senate.
“The Constitution does not specify who shall preside in case the impeachment is against other than the president. So it is up to the Senate to follow their own rules on who should preside,” he said.
