Senators call for caucus to discuss Sara Duterte’s impeachment case

Several senators on Monday called for an immediate caucus or a meeting to discuss the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte.

Senator Imee Marcos said that she is inviting Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero to hold the caucus as lawmakers have varying opinions regarding the impeachment trial. 

“Tatlong araw na lang ang natitira, wala nang mapapag-usapan kung itatawid hanggang sa 20th Congress—isang tumatangginting rin na tanong ‘yun, hindi natin alam. Kaya dapat pag-usapan nang maigi. Kaya inaanyayahan ko nga si SP [Escudero], mag-caucus na kami at maraming nalalabuan, maraming opinion,” Marcos said. 

(There's only three days left, we have yet to talk about if the impeachment should cross over to the 20th Congress. We don't know. That's why we should discuss it thoroughly. I'm inviting SP Escudero to conduct a caucus because there's a lot of questions and opinions about the matter.) 

Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, meanwhile, said that a caucus is needed in order to discuss the schedule of the Senate, especially that there are bills that need to be passed before the 19th Congress adjourns sine die on June 14.

“The clamor of many members of the Senate is to call for a caucus so that we can discuss this—not about the merits of the case…we’re not going to discuss panalo ba may boto ba o hindi [if someone would vote for the impeachment or not],” Zubiri told reporters. 

“Pwede naman tayong mag double time sa trabaho—magtrabaho sa umaga, sa hapon impeachment court. Pero walang linaw as of now kaya hindi namin alam,” he added. 

(We can double time at work—we can work in the morning, and convene as an impeachment court in the afternoon. But there is no clarity as of now so we don't know.) 

Senator Loren Legarda also backed the calls for a meeting among senators. 

“Amidst public confusion and varying opinions [regarding] the impeachment, it is incumbent upon the Senate to hold a caucus immediately and discuss it in the plenary so that the statements and decisions are not made unilaterally,” Legarda said. 

Outgoing Senator Nancy Binay also said that a caucus is necessary to determine the schedule of the Upper Chamber before the adjournment. 

“Napakahalaga na merong caucus para napag-uusapan ‘yung mga ganitong schedule, at ano ba talaga ‘yung tamang proseso,” Binay said. 

(It’s very important to hold a caucus to discuss these schedules, and to know what is the correct process.) 

‘Not hiding anything’

Escudero, on the other hand, expressed apprehension regarding the call for a caucus, pointing out that he nor the entire Senate does not want to hide anything from the public. 

“Hindi ako sang-ayon sa all member caucus dahil hindi ako sang-ayong pag-usapan ito sa loob ng isang kwartong walang nakakarinig. Mas gusto kong pag-usapan ito sa plenaryo, pag-debatehan ito sa plenaryo, pag-botohan ito sa plenaryo,” Escudero said. 

(I’m not in favor of the all member caucus because I don’t want to talk about this in a room where no one can hear. I prefer to discuss it in plenary, debate on it in the plenary, vote on it in the plenary.) 

“Wala kaming tinatago at wala akong nais itago at ang Senado kaugnay sa bagay na ito. Ang caucus ginagawa lamang ‘yan dahil may mga usapin o salita na hindi pwedeng madinig ng publiko. Naniniwala ako kaugnay sa bagay na ito, lahat ay pwede at dapat marinig ng publiko at anumang pagpapasya, kailangan padaanin sa botohan para on the record,” he added. 

(I and we in the Senate have nothing to hide regarding this matter. We only conduct a caucus if there’s anything that the public doesn’t need to hear. I believe that regarding this matter, everything should be heard by the public, and every decision must be put to a vote so it can be on the record.) 

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Monday morning announced that the Senate’s minority bloc will formally move during the plenary session this afternoon to start the opening rites in the impeachment trial of Duterte. 

Hontiveros said that she and Senate Minority Leader Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III will move to allow Escudero to take his oath as the presiding officer of the impeachment court, and to administer the prescribed oath to all members of the Senate as judges of the impeachment court.

She said the minority bloc will also move for the Senate to convene as an impeachment court, and for the Articles of Impeachment to be formally presented to the body. —AOL, GMA Integrated News