Pacquiao explains why he didn’t sign reso on Senate power to impeach

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Saturday shed light on why he did not sign the draft resolution insisting that the Senate has the sole power to try and decide on the removal of impeachable officials amid the ouster of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno by her colleagues in the Supreme Court.

"Kasi parang disrespectful sa batas natin kung 'di tayo magtitiwala sa desisyon ng hurado na ginamit nila ang quo warranto, ang quo warranto kasi nagagamit yan pag less one year, pero ang quo warranto magagamit din yan anytime basta government ang gumamit nito," Pacquiao said.

Voting 8-6, the high court has granted the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against Sereno, questioning the validity of her appointment in 2012 over an alleged lack of integrity for her failure to declare her wealth.

Thirteen senators so far  have signed the draft resolution insisting that the Senate has the sole power to try and decide the removal of impeachable officials. 

Among those who signed were Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senate Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, Senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Risa Hontiveros, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Francis Pangilinan, and Leila de Lima.

Members of the majority bloc including Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III, Senators Francis Escudero, Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Grace Poe, and Juan Edgardo Angara also signed the resolution. 

While Pacquiao admits he believes that the upper chamber has the sole power to remove impeachable officials, the he said he opted to respect the High court's decision.

"Tingin ko respetuhin na lang natin ang desisyon ng mga hurado dahil may posisyon naman sila na gawin ang desisyon nila," the boxer-turned-lawmaker said.

"Sa totoo lang naawa ako kay Sereno dun sa pagtatanggal sa kaniya pero alam mo katulad ng sinabi ko respetuhin natin ang batas natin," Pacquiao said. —Ted Cordero/LBG, GMA News