Senate told: Leave Marcos out of VP Duterte impeachment trial brouhaha

Vice President Sara Duterte (left), President Marcos (MANILA BULLETIN)

Leave President Marcos out of the issue on Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial.

Lanao del Sur 1st district Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong and Manila 1st district Rep. Ernesto "Ernix" Dionisio made this appeal to senators on Monday, Feb. 24 as the tit-for-that between the House of Representatives and Senate on the matter of the impeachment continued.

Earlier, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero said that the President should call on Congress (House and Senate) to hold a special session for the impeachment trial to start immediately. 

“I think we should not directly involve the President in the case of impeachment…because this is entirely within the scope and mandate of the Congress as the Constitution says," Adiong said in a press conference.

"I tend to lean towards the legal opinion of one of our [impeachment] prosecutors, [Iloilo] Congressman Lorenz Defensor, when he describes the impeachment process as sui generis, unique of its own,” the Mindanaoan said.

“Dahil hindi naman ito legislative na trabaho, ito ay something else. Ito ay paglilitis sa isang nasasakdal, in this case the Vice President of the Republic (This isn't a legislative task. This is something else. This is a trial against an accused, in this case the Vice President of the Republic),” he explained.

Adiong pointed to the martial law provision of the Constitution, where Congress can convene without a call from the President to review his martial law declaration.

“I don't see why this cannot be applied the same with the impeachment court since it is sui generis. It's not really connected with the legislative function of the Congress.

He also raised the possibility that a call for a special session from the President might be given political color.

“We should not be using anything or anyone or any organization to influence the senator-judges on how they would approach and appreciate the merits of the impeachment cases…The more we should disallow the President to involve directly.

"Kasi baka sabihin naman ng mga kritiko ng ating pamahalaan na ‘pag ang Presidente ang magtawag ng special session…it would translate into influencing the senator-judges at baka sabihin naman nila ito ay political move,” he said.

(Administration critics might say that if the President calls for a special session...it would translate into influencing the senator-judges and this might be branded as a political move.)

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Dionisio agreed with Adiong and said, “Dapat hindi makialam si President Bongbong Marcos in terms of doon sa impeachment process. Kasi ‘yung sinasabing calendar, legislative calendar yun eh, iba naman itong impeachment eh."

(President Bongbong Marcos must not interfere in the impeachment process. The calender that they're talking about is the legislative calendar, this is different because it's about impeachment.)

Congress has been on recess since Feb. 5, the same day that the House submitted the impeachment complaint against Vice President Duterte to the Senate. 

"Papaanong mangyayari na si President Bongbong Marcos lang ang pwedeng gumawa ng hakbang para mag-proceed yung impeachment court ng Senate in convening, di parang nakaasa naman yung Senate sa iisang tao, sa Pangulo,” he said. 

(How can it be that only President Bongbong Marcos can make a way for the Senate impeachment court to convene, it's like the Senate is relying on just one person, the President.)

“Sinabi na nga ng Constitution na sole responsibility ng Congress and the Senate to do the trial of any impeachment. So, it makes no sense na i-involve natin ng Pangulo para sa ganoon,” he said.

(The Constitution already said it's the sole responsibility of Congress and the Senate to do the trial of any impeachment. So, it makes no sense to involve the President for this.)

President Marcos and Vice President Duterte are former political allies.