Senate coup not answer to stop VP Sara impeachment — Erwin Tulfo

A change in the Senate leadership is "not the answer" to stop the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, Senator Erwin Tulfo said Sunday.

“It's not the answer,” Tulfo told Super Radyo dzBB. “Magtatanong ang mga tao bakit nagkudeta (The people will question why there was a coup d'état.) A question cannot answer another question.”

“Magiging halatang halata sila, kung 'yung grupong mag-i-initiate ng kudeta. How will they explain to the public na kaya nag-coup para hindi matuloy ang impeachment?" he added.

(The group would be obvious if they initiated a coup d'état. How will they explain to the public that there’s a coup d'état to bar the impeachment.)

In a statement, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said that he is leaving the fate of his position in the hands of the Lord.

“I heard. As always, I serve at the pleasure of my peers. I uphold and follow the Constitution! I leave everything to God’s plan. I trust HIS Heart!” Sotto said.

Sotto earlier said the chamber would convene immediately and hold pre-trial proceedings before the formal trial.

Tulfo said the Senate plans to conduct the impeachment trial on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3 p.m. onwards.

“Nag-usap kami ni SP Sotto, ang sabi niya definitely we have to convene forthwith, pero it doesn't mean to say na magkakaroon agad ng trial because we still have to give time for the defense, for the prosecution,” Tulfo said.

(Sotto and I talked and he said that we will convene forthwith, but it doesn’t mean to say there will be an immediate trial because we still have to give time for the defense and for the prosecution.)

“What if the individual will resign during the trial so hindi matatapos, are we still going to pursue? Ang initial na usapan, let us just pursue, let us just continue. What about the perpetual disqualification meron pa ba? ’Yung ang pag-uusapan sa rules kasi hindi malinaw ngayon sa rules,” he added.

(What if the individual resigns during the trial? so it will not be completed. Are we still going to pursue it? The initial discussion was to pursue it, let us just continue. What about the perpetual disqualification? Will that still apply? That is what will be discussed in the rules because the rules are not clear on that right now.)

Via unanimous vote, the House Committee on Justice found probable cause to impeach Duterte anew based on two impeachment complaints filed against her this year.

The two impeachment complaints filed against the Vice President accuse her of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, among others, mainly over the following acts:

• Alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds and using them as bribes
• Threatening to kill President Marcos, Jr. and his family, including her desire to remove the head of the Chief Executive
• Alleged accumulation of unexplained wealth

House Committee on Justice chairperson Representative Gerville Luistro is scheduled to sponsor the committee report and the resolution setting forth the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte during the session on Monday, May 11, after it was unanimously approved on May 4.

A total of 106 votes are needed to transmit the Articles of Impeachment to the Senate. —RF/GMA, News