Tolentino files reso to end Sara Duterte's impeachment trial in 19 days

Senate Majority Leader Francis Tolentino has filed a resolution seeking to adopt a 19-day calendar to conduct the proceedings for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Under Senate Resolution No. 1367, Tolentino said the impeachment trial shall proceed in accordance with the following proposed calendar “in order to uphold due process and ensure the timely resolution of the impeachment case:” 

• June 11: Constitution of the impeachment court
• June 11-21: Submission of answer by Vice President Sara Duterte (10 days)
• June 22: Reply of prosecutors
• June 23: Submission of trial briefs (morning); Opening statements (afternoon)
• June 24-25: Presentation of evidence by prosecution
• June 25-26: Presentation of evidence by defense
• June 27: Rebuttal by prosecution (morning); Rebuttal by defense (afternoon)
• June 28: Oral arguments (1 hour each for defense and prosecution)
• June 29: Closed-door meeting of senator-judges
• June 30: Rendition of verdict

Tolentino underscored the need to adopt the expedited trial calendar, which he said would afford the parties a “full and fair opportunity to articulate their respective positions and to ensure the resolution of the case” before the 19th Congress ends on June 30. 

“[T]he adoption of said calendar enables the Senate to resolve the trial within the term of the Nineteenth Congress, thereby avoiding the unresolved and constitutionally precarious implications of allowing such proceedings to extend to the next Congress,” the resolution read. 

Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday night took his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court in the trial of Duterte. 

The Senate also adopted Senator Joel Villanueva's motion that the rest of the senators take their oaths as senator-judges in the impeachment trial at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

After the senators take their oaths, the court would be constituted but not yet convened, Villanueva said in his motion, which was approved.

The Senate also voted unanimously to refer the verified impeachment complaint against Duterte to the committee on rules.

Duterte was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint against her. She was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes. 

Impeachment court to decide

In response to Tolentino’s proposed calendar, Escudero had said that the impeachment court will be the one to decide on the matter once it convenes. 

The Senate President also questioned the need to expedite the impeachment proceedings, citing the need for due process both for the defense and the prosecution. 

“Saan ba nakasulat na objective naming abbreviate o ipadali o padaliin o paikliin ang proseso. Hindi ba ang objective dapat bigyan ng due process ang magkabilang panig na maipresenta yung kanilang ebidensya,” Escudero said on Monday. 

(Where was it written that it is our objective to abbreviate or expedite the impeachment process? Isn't it the objective to give due process to both sides in order for them to present their evidence?) 

He also maintained that the impeachment trial can still cross over to the 20th Congress. 

“Hindi ako sangayon sa paniniwala niya na hindi tatawid ang impeachment complaint sa susunod na Kongreso bagaman ang opinyon ko ngayong 19th Congress ay hindi binding sa 20th Congress ito, ay pagpapasyahan muli ng 20th Congress kung saan bahagi pa din akoi,” Escudero added. 

(I don’t agree with his opinion that the impeachment case cannot cross to the next Congress although I believe that the 19th Congress is not binding on the 20th Congress, it will be decided again by the 20th Congress of which I am still a part of.)  

Meanwhile, Senator Robin Padilla also filed earlier a resolution seeking to declare as terminated the impeachment proceedings against Duterte. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News