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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bongalon doesn't agree with Escudero's take on Senate impeachment action

Bongalon doesn't agree with Escudero's take on Senate impeachment action

Published Feb 22, 2025 03:57 pm

At A Glance

  • Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero's fellow Bicolano, Ako-Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon, doesn't believe that public clamor should have any bearing on the Senate's action on Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment complaint.

20250222_112812.jpgAko Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon (left), Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero (MANILA BULLETIN/ Facebook)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero's fellow Bicolano, Ako-Bicol Party-list Rep. Jil Bongalon, doesn't believe that public clamor should have any bearing on the Senate's action on Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment complaint.

Bongalon--a House assistant majority leader and member of the House "Young Guns" bloc--noted that the Senate has a constitutional duty to act on the impeachment complaint, regardless of whether or not there are rallies or public demonstrations calling for it. 

“Clamor is not the basis for us to act on something that the Constitution mandates,” he said over the weekend. 

“Whether may clamor ‘yan o wala, eh sinasabi ho ng Constitution na meron ho tayong obligasyon, trabaho na mag-convene as the Senate sitting as an impeachment trial court (w

(Whether or not there's clamor for it, the Constitution says that we have an obligation, that its the job of the Senate to convene as an impeachment trial court),” he added.

While Bongalon didn't mention any name, he gave these remarks a day after Escudero questioned the existence of any clamor from the public for the upper chamber to act on Duterte's impeachment rap.

Bongalon emphasized that the impeachment process was triggered solely by the House's transmission of the articles of impeachment to the Senate last Feb. 5.

“Malinaw, sinasabi doon, once na nai-transmit na ang ating impeachment or article of impeachment, then ang bola po ngayon ay nasa Senado na,” he explained.

(It clearly states there that once the impeachment or article of impeachment is transmitted, the ball is transferred to the Senate's court.)

The six major allegations contained in the seven articles of impeachment against the Vice President are conspiracy to assassinate President Marcos; malversation of P612.5 million in confidential funds; bribery and corruption in Department of Education (DepEd); unexplained wealth and failure to disclose assets; involvement in extrajudicial killings (Davao Death Squad); and destabilization, insurrection, and public disorder.

The Senate went on recess last Feb. 5 without tackling the impeachment complaint against Duterte. Lawmakers won't hold another session until June 2.

Escudero, who hails from Sorsogon, has said that the impeachment trial could start after President Marcos' State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July.

 

Related Tags

Impeachment francis Chiz Escudero Sara Duterte Jil Bongalon
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