Senators hold caucus ahead of VP Duterte impeachment trial

Senators on Friday met for an all-member caucus ahead of the formal opening of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, July 6.

Led by Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, members of the majority and minority bloc arrived at the Senate as part of the preparations for the impeachment trial.

In attendance were members of the majority bloc, including Senators JV Ejercito, Ping Lacson, Erwin Tulfo, Francis "Chiz" Escudero, Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri, Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, and Risa Hontiveros, as well as two minority senators—Senators Loren Legarda and Robin Padilla.

"Ang pinag-usapan namin is all about impeachment. Binigyan kami mga documents to follow 'yung mga sequencing," Tulfo told reporters in a chance interview after the caucus.

(We talked about the impeachment. We were given documents to follow the sequencing.)

Asked if the filing of non-bailable plunder charges against Senator Rodante Marcoleta was discussed, Tulfo said, "Wala kaming pinag-usapan na ibang senator. It's all about impeachment."

(We did not talk about any other senator. It's all about impeachment.)

Meanwhile, Padilla on Facebook, thanked Lacson for backing Legarda's recommendations but did not give any details.

"Alhamdulillah. Ang pagpupulong na naganap sa pagitan ng Mayorya at Minorya. Maraming salamat po Senator Panfilo Lacson sa pagsuporta sa mga mungkahi ni Senadora Loren Legarda," Padilla said.

(Alhamdulillah. The meeting between the majority and minority. Thank you, Senator Lacson, for supporting the suggestions of Legarda.)

Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano warned the fairness on the trial may be "at risk" pending the Supreme Court (SC) decision on the petition he filed seeking to declare the June 3 Senate session that installed Gatchalian as Senate President Pro-Tempore as null and void.

Cayetano recently filed a manifestation reiterating its plea for the Supreme Court (SC) to decide on a petition.

“Narinig na nating sinabi n’ung iba na kapag 22 lang sila (senators), baka hindi 16 ang kailangan para mag-convict. Ibig sabihin po ba noon, kapag anim ang kinulong na senador eh sa 12 [boto] pwede nang i-convict ang kahit na sinong impeachable officer?” said Cayetano.

(We heard sattements na if the number of senators expected to attend the trial decrease to 22, the threshold for the voting may be reduced. Does that mean if six senators were detained, the votes needed may be lowered from 16 to 12?)

The impeachment trial will begin at 2 p.m. on Monday, July 6. It will initially be held every Mondays to Wednesday at 2 p.m. before the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on July 27 and will be adjusted to Tuesdays to Thursdays at 2 p.m. after the SONA.

The Senate impeachment court had summoned Duterte to appear at the formal opening of her impeachment trial.

Duterte is facing impeachment charges over allegations of culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, betrayal of public trust, bribery, and other high crimes. In May, she was impeached by the House of Representatives for the second time.

On May 18, the Senate convened as an impeachment court. On June 1, Duterte's camp filed their answer to the Articles of Impeachment, asking the court to junk the impeachment case against her. —VAL, GMA News