Bayan Muna chairperson Neri Colmenares has filed a position paper before the Senate, asking the Upper Chamber to immediately convene as an impeachment court and expedite the trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

In the position paper which he filed at the Office of the Senate Secretary, Colmenares cited the legal and constitutional basis on the need for the impeachment trial to proceed despite the ongoing election campaign. 

“The Senate should forthwith proceed with the impeachment trial as commanded by the Constitution—not on June 2, 2025 or in the next Congress,” Colmenares said in his position paper.

“Article XI Section 3 (4) of the Constitution provides that ‘in case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed’,” he pointed out.

“While there may be debates on the length of time required for an act to be ‘forthwith,’ it cannot be absurdly interpreted as more than four months later on “June 2, 2025” or in the ‘next Congress’,” he stressed. 

“While ordinary mortals and lowly government employees can be administratively charged and removed from office any time, even for mere improper acts or misdemeanors, impeachable officials are immune from these suits,”    

“This is the reason why many impeachable officials in the past have been encouraged in committing corruption or abusing their powers—they can always claim that they cannot be removed unless convicted in an impeachment trial. Delays in impeachment trials therefore, only embolden the corrupt and denies justice to the injured party—the Filipino people,” he stressed. 

Colmenares also stated that the President has the power to call for a special session and should convene a special session of Congress immediately.

Nevertheless, he said the Senate president, “in consultation with the majority and minority leaders, and upon agreement with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, may reconvene the Senate in session without need of a call by the President of the Philippines, at any time during a recess, to consider urgent legislative matters.”

The Bayan Muna official also said “there is no need for the Senate to draft a new set of impeachment rules, as there is a standing set of Senate Rules on Impeachment in the 19th Congress.”

“We urge the Senate to desist from delaying the impeachment trial by drafting a new set of impeachment rules and instead use the already approved and published Rules on Impeachment under the 19th Congress.  These rules have been deployed in the Corona impeachment trial and was not voided by any court,” he stressed. 

“Lastly, we assert that the impeachment should be an election issue.  The Duterte’s have announced that they will make the impeachment an election issue.  Those who genuinely support the impeachment should rise to the challenge and make this impeachment against VP Sara Duterte an election issue,” the Bayan Muna representative stressed. 

“Madali na lang nila ma-dispose (ang case) even before June 30. Tapos na nila ito, kung gugustuhin nila na mag-convene at mag-trial ngayon (They can easily dispose of the case even before June 30. They can finish it immediately if they want to convene and hold the trial now),” he said in an interview. 

Aside from Colmenares, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also filed a similar position paper addressed to Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero expressing the same sentiment.