Hontiveros on Senate reconvening as impeachment court: 'Malayong scenario'

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday said it is "unlikely" for the Senate to convene as an impeachment court in the case of Vice President Sara Duterte if the Supreme Court (SC) rejects the motions for reconsideration.

“Well, medyo, siguro, baka mas malayong scenario na iyan,” Hontiveros told GMA Integrated News’ Unang Balita in an interview.

(Well maybe that's a more far-fetched scenario.)

The Senate on Wednesday—with 19 votes for, four against, and one abstention—decided to transfer to the archives the articles of impeachment against Duterte with some senators citing the SC decision stating that the vice president’s impeachment case is unconstitutional.

The SC with 13-0 votes ruled that the articles of impeachment are barred by the one-year rule under Article XI Section 3 paragraph 5 of the Constitution. It also ruled that the articles violate the right to due process.

However, motions for reconsideration were filed in connection with the ruling of the high court.

“Kung hindi po talaga bigyang daan ng Korte Suprema yung motions for reconsideration, ewan ko siguro yung mga civil society advocates at yung mga representante na unang nag-file ng complaint ay baka tignan na lang nila yung susunod na time horizon na ibinigay ng Korte Suprema sa kanilang ruling na February 6,” Hontiveros said.

(If the Supreme Court really doesn't grant the motions for reconsideration, I don't know, maybe the civil society advocates and the representatives who first filed the complaint will just look at the next time horizon given by the Supreme Court in their ruling which is February 6.)

However, Hontiveros said that while the Senate will continue to respect the SC, she vowed that the upper chamber will find ways to uphold and harmonize its power to try and decide on impeachment cases.

“Hahanapan pa rin namin yung paraan na itaguyod din, ibalanse, at i-harmonize yun ding solong kapangyarihan ng Senado na duminig at magdesisyon sa mga impeachment complaint,” she said.

(We will still find a way to uphold, balance, and harmonize the Senate’s sole power to hear and decide impeachment complaints.)

“Higit sa lahat, susubukan pa rin naming itaguyod yung karapatan ng mamamayan na masingil yung accountability na nasa puso at kaluluwa ng Konstitusyon at karapatan ng mamamayan masingil sa bawat isa sa aming nagtratarabaho sa gobyerno,” she added.

(Above all, we will still try to uphold the right of the people for accountability which is at the heart and soul of the Constitution and the right of the people to hold each and every one of us working in government accountable.)

Circumstances

In case the SC favors the motions for reconsideration, Hontiveros said it is still possible that the 19 senators who initially voted to archive Duterte’s impeachment case will also change their decision.

“Lagi naming sinasabi na ang Senado ay deliberative body. Kahit may nauna pong botong ganiyan, kung nag-iba yung sirkumstansya, kung bigyang daan ng Korte Suprema yung motion for reconsideration, bagong debate na nga 'yan ulit,” she said. 

(We always say that the Senate is a deliberative body. Even if there was a previous vote like that, if the circumstances changed, if the Supreme Court granted the motion for reconsideration, it would be a new debate again.)

“At ako laging umaasa sa isang debate, mahirap man, posibleng makapagkumbinse pa ng ilan pang mga kasama sa Senado. Malay natin, makabuo pa rin kami ng majority vote para nga tanggalin sa archive yung impeachment complaint at ipagpatuloy yung trial dyan,” she added.

(And I always hope that in a debate, even if it is difficult, it is possible to convince a few more members of the Senate. Who knows, we may still be able to come up with a majority vote to remove the impeachment complaint from the archive and continue the trial.)

The vice president was impeached by the House on February 5 with more than 200 congressmen endorsing the verified complaint against her.

Duterte was accused of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes.

She has denied the allegations. —Joviland Rita/ VAL, GMA Integrated News