SP Sotto: Some senators discussed possible VP Sara Duterte impeachment trial

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Monday said that he had invited some senators from the majority bloc to discuss the possibility of the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte being transmitted to the Senate by the House of Representatives.

Sotto, who may sit as the presiding officer of the impeachment court that is expected to try the verified complaint against Duterte, said potential senator-judges should prepare for any event that may arise. 

“I just wanted to give my colleagues a heads up on the possibility of receiving the Articles of Impeachment from the [House of Representatives]. It’s best that we prepare for it as senator judges,” he said. 

The Senate President, however, clarified that the gathering was not a caucus or an official Senate meeting as he only invited majority senators who were in town for dinner.

He also maintained that they will “remain impartial and wait for whatever will be presented.” 

Sotto previously committed to act “forthwith” on any impeachment complaint that may possibly be transmitted to the Senate.

This was in reference to Article XI Section 3(4) of the 1987 Constitution, which states that: “In case the verified complaint or resolution of impeachment is filed by at least one-third of all the Members of the House, the same shall constitute the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed.” 

Crash course

Sotto also shared that he is undergoing a crash program on the Rules of Court to jibe with the Senate’s own Rules “to be sure in case of any eventuality.” 

In February, Sotto said he was 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.

The House Committee on Justice has been conducting hearings on the impeachment complaints against Duterte since last month. This was reached after the panel found the two impeachment complaints to be sufficient in form, substance, and grounds.

For her part, Duterte has argued that the complaints should be dismissed due to lack of evidence. — RSJ, GMA News