A number of questions are still to be answered on the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte but on Aug. 6, 19 senators led by Senate President Francis Escudero voted to deprive the Filipino people of exacting accountability from public officials.
The senators put to a vote the motion of Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s motion to junk the impeachment complaint against Duterte, which was declared by the Supreme Court on July 25 as in violation of the Constitutional provision of only one impeachment allowed in one year. On Aug. 4, the House of Representatives filed a motion to reverse the ruling citing factual errors in the High Court’s decision. The Vice President was given 10 days to comment on the House’s motion for reconsideration.
To recall, several impeachment complaints were filed in the HOR. On Feb. 5, the HOR transmitted to the Senate an impeachment complaint against the vice president signed by 215 members accusing Duterte of misuse of confidential funds, threats against government officials, and possible constitutional violations.
At the Senate last Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Tito Sotto countered with a motion to table Marcoleta’s motion while waiting for the Supreme Court to rule on the House’s motion for reconsideration. Marcoleta amended his motion to “archive” the impeachment complaint which legislative observers say is as good as killing it.
The 19 who voted for “archive” were: Alan Peter Cayetano,Pia Cayetano, Ronal Dela Rosa, Sherwin Gatchalian, JV Ejercito, Escudero. Jinggoy Estrada, Bong Go. Lito Lapid;
Loren Legarda. Rodante Marcoleta. Imee Marcos. Robin Padilla. Erwin Tulfo, Raffy Tulfo,Joel Villanueva
Camille Villar,Mark Villar, and Migz Zubiri.
Those who voted “No” were Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, and Tito Sotto.
Ping Lacson abstained.
Many are devastated by what they witnessed in the Senate on Wednesday. But in the same way that Escudero and Marcoleta showed the disdainful images of the Senate of the 20th Congress, the valiant stand of Hontiveros, Sotto, Lacson, Pangilinan and Aquino is a source of inspiration and hope for those who want to have a working and meaningful democracy in the country.
Photos by Bullit Marquez for VERA Files.
