Former Senate President Franklin M. Drilon on Sunday, February 23 reiterated that the power to convene Congress for a special session rests solely with the President.

Congress without a special session, cannot meet to act on the impeachment complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, Drilon insisted.

“Ang bola ay nasa Pangulo (The ball is in the President’s hands),” Drilon said in a radio interview. 

According to the former Senate leader, Congress must meet either during its regular session or through a special session to discharge its responsibilities.

And this include functioning as an impeachment court, where they can tackle the Articles of Impeachment. 

Any deviation from the set calendar is not permissible unless the Constitution allows for it. 

“Ang Kongreso ay dapat tawagin as a collegial body upang magampanan ang kanilang trabaho (Congress should be called as a collegial body to carry out their work),” he noted, 

“Hindi pwedeng mag session ang senado on its own. Mas pabor ako sa sinabi ni Senate President Escudero na kailangan may session (The Senate cannot have a session on its own. I am more in favor of what Senate President Escudero said that there must be a session),” he added. 

“The Senate or the House of Representatives cannot meet outside of their calendar that they have approved,” Drilon pointed out.

Though the Constitution does provide instances when Congress can meet without a formal call from the President, that is only when meetings are held in accordance with the regular calendar or when the majority of the Cabinet certifies that the President cannot discharge his functions. 

Another occasion would be when the President declares martial law as Congress is duly mandated to convene to approve or revoke the declaration. 

But when it comes to convening of the impeachment court, a special session is indispensable, if Congress is not in session, Drilon stressed. 

“The President has the sole power to compel Congress to a special session. Unless, of course, he opts not to pursue impeachment,” the former Senate chief emphasized.