SP Sotto: Forthwith for me means 'the following day'

Should the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte be transmitted to the upper chamber, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Thursday said that the Senate will convene as an impeachment court immediately the day after. 

Sotto was reacting to the clarification of the Supreme Court that the term “forthwith” as mentioned in Article 11, Section 3(4) of the 1987 Constitution meant that the Senate should hold an impeachment trial “within a reasonable time,” not necessarily immediately, as a petitioner argued.

“I think the Supreme Court decision is based on the petition. Hindi naman sumasaklaw ‘yung decision na ‘yan sa trabaho ng Senado (that decision does not apply to the work of the Senate). Does not have anything to do with the work of the Senate. We are co-equal of branch. That’s why tama ‘yung decision nila (their decision is correct), pero (but) as far as that petition that was filed to them is concerned, not on the way the Senate is conducting itself,” Sotto said in an ambush interview. 

“And in this case, if ever we receive the articles of impeachment, we will act on it forthwith. Sa akin ang (for me, the term) forthwith, [means] the following day,” he added. 

The 1987 Constitution 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.” 

The high court said that the term “forthwith,” as stated, “means within a reasonable time, which may be longer or shorter, depending on the circumstances of each case.”

This then allows the Senate “to make the necessary preparations to convene as an impeachment court.”

The SC, however, stressed that the Senate must still avoid “undue delay” when it comes to the impeachment trial. 

Sotto previously said there is no need to define “forthwith” —a term that became controversial during the past Congress when the articles of impeachment reached the Senate, which was then under the leadership of former Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero. 

“Definitely there's one thing for sure, once we receive it we will convene the valedictorian as an impeachment court if we do receive it,” he said. 

Sotto made the commitment after he called for a caucus or meeting among senators earlier on Thursday to discuss the preparations for the possible impeachment trial of Duterte.

He also said the possible trial will be livestreamed and open for public viewing. — RSJ, GMA News