SP Sotto being briefed for possible VP Sara impeachment trial

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Friday said that he has now been seeking legal guidance should he sit as presiding officer of the impeachment court that will try the complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte. 

Sotto said that he is already being briefed by two lawyers from the Court of Appeals and one from the Court of Tax Appeals since two weeks ago, in preparation for the possible convening of the Senate as an impeachment court.

“I am being briefed by some justices friends because I would want to concentrate on how to be the presiding officer of an impeachment court pagdating sa (when it comes to the) rules of evidence at saka sa (as well as the) rules on criminal procedures,” the Senate President said in a Zoom interview.

“‘Yan ang pinakamahalaga sa impeachment eh. Kailangan maliwanag ang pananaw mo sa rules of evidence dahil maraming magagaling na abugadong nagpapasa ng kung anu ano sa'yo at sa court,” he added.

(Those are the most important things when it comes to the impeachment trial. You need to have a clear view on the rules of evidence because there are many lawyers who will tell you and the court what to do.) 

TIMELINE: Impeachment proceedings vs. Vice President Sara Duterte

Two impeachment complaints were filed Monday against Duterte, citing betrayal of public trust, culpable violations of the Constitution, graft and corruption, bribery, and other high crimes.

House Secretary General Cheloy Velicaria-Garafil formally transmitted the two impeachment complaints against the Vice President to the Office of Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III on Thursday afternoon for appropriate action. 

Duterte’s defense team, on the other hand, said it is ready to face newly filed impeachment complaints, asserting that the allegations against her lack both factual and legal basis.

For the part of the Senate, Sotto maintained that the chamber is "always ready” should a consolidated complaint be transmitted by the House of Representatives. 

He also expressed belief that fellow senators are also seeking legal advice ahead of the possible impeachment trial.

“As a senator, you must be aware of, whether you’re a lawyer or not, you must be aware of what is acceptable in the rules of evidence. Kaya kahit regular senator ka lang, you must prepare in case there is an article of impeachment that reaches us,” Sotto explained.

(As a senator, you must also know the rules. As a senator, whether you're a lawyer or not, you must be aware of what is acceptable in the rules of evidence. So even if you are just a regular senator, you must prepare in case there is an article of impeachment that reaches us.) 

Asked what would be the difference of the Sotto-led impeachment trial from the trials in the past, he said, “Wala naman akong nakikitang dapat kaibihan eh.”

(I don't see anything that would be different.) 

“You follow the procedures at saka kapag may controversial, you throw it to the body. So wala akong nakikita ang pagkakaiba dapat,” he added. 

(You follow the procedures and then when there is something controversial, you throw it to the body. So I don't see any difference.) —VAL, GMA Integrated News