No more impeachment trial? Jinggoy counts 19-20 votes for SC ruling, Sotto says not so fast

Metro Manila, Philippines - Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada estimates that at least 19 senators may vote to uphold the Supreme Court ruling, effectively dismissing the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte — but the minority is not giving up yet.

"Perhaps that’s his opinion because most of us have not heard the flaws and questionable points in the Supreme Court decision. Let's wait and see,” Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III told reporters in a text message on Friday, August 1.

He was asked about Estrada’s comment the night before that “19 to 20” senators, including himself, want the Senate to follow the Supreme Court’s decision voiding the impeachment complaint against Duterte.

Estrada said the estimate is based on his observations during the all-members caucus last Tuesday, July 29, where senators agreed to discuss their response to the Supreme Court ruling on August 6.

“Unang una sa body language nila. Pangalawa sa salita nila, mahahalata mo naman kung sino e [First, based on their body language. Second, from what they said — you can tell who they are],” Estrada said in a press conference.

He added that even some minority bloc members, Senators Ping Lacson and Migz Zubiri, support abiding by the high court’s ruling, while Senator Loren Legarda remained “mum” on the issue during the caucus.

Meanwhile, four senators have signed a draft Senate resolution seeking reconsideration of the Supreme Court decision: Sotto, Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros, and majority Senators Kiko Pangilinan and Bam Aquino.

Pangilinan said some of their colleagues are still reviewing the draft.

Estrada is firm he will not sign it, echoing Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s warning that defying the Supreme Court could trigger a constitutional crisis.

“No more ]impeachment trial]. Because ang sabi ng Supreme Court, the Senate has no jurisdiction already dahil unconstitutional nga yung finile ng House of Representatives and the Senate will not convene as an Impeachment Court because we do not have jurisdiction anymore,” Estrada said.

Pangilinan, however, noted that if the House files a motion for reconsideration, the Supreme Court ruling will not become final until the appeal is resolved.

“So if 19 or 20 are to abide by the ruling of the SC we should, at the very least, hold in abeyance any vote to dismiss until the MR is resolved so the Senate will know exactly what final ruling we are to abide by and respect,” he said.

Estrada said that if the Senate votes to abide by the Supreme Court on August 6, and the Court later reverses its decision, the Senate would then have to reconvene the impeachment court in compliance with the high court’s ruling.

“Kung ano ang utos ng Supreme Court [Whatever the Supreme Court says],” Estrada stressed.