Gatchalian notes ‘uncharted territory’ in VP Sara’s impeachment case

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Tuesday evening expressed concern over the outcome of the impeachment case of Vice President Sara Duterte as the Senate voted to return to the House of Representatives the articles of impeachment without dismissing or terminating them.

“I am probably concerned because without any precedents, then we don't know what's going to happen. So, let's see. Let's see kung ano ang mga susunod (what happens next),” Gatchalian told reporters in an ambush interview.

He said he had been following the precedents of the impeachment since the steps were clear. However, developments on Tuesday have changed the landscape.

“With this new intervention, in my opinion, dahil bago siya, parang uncharted territory na hindi natin alam kung ano yung mga susunod na steps,” he added.

(With this new intervention, in my opinion, since it is new, it’s like uncharted territory in which we don’t know the next steps.)

Gatchalian said the Senate, for now, is waiting for the schedule from Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

“It really depends kung ano yung mga next move. Hopefully, walang delay. Narinig ko naman na nag-issue na ng summons,” he said.

(It really depends on what the next move will be. Hopefully, there would be no delay. I heard there was an issuance of the writ of summons.)

The motion to return the articles of impeachment to the House of Representatives was approved with 18 affirmative, five negative votes, and zero abstention.

Senator-judge Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa earlier moved that the impeachment court dismiss the impeachment case against Duterte, citing possible a violation of the one-year ban on impeachment complaints against an impeachable public official.

With the motion approved by the Senate, there would be no presentation of the prosecution on Wednesday.

Still, Escudero, as the presiding officer of the impeachment court, issued a writ of summons to Sara Duterte, directing the Vice President to file her answers within 10 days. —RF, GMA Integrated News