“‘Yung Senate po is the domain of the senators. What does it mean? Kung ano ang mapapag-agree-han ng majority, ‘yun ang nangyayari. So minsan mabuti ‘yan, minsan hindi.”
This was the stand of former senator and Caloocan mayoral aspirant Sonny Trillanes IV regarding the delay in the process of the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
During the Balitaan sa Tinapayan this Friday, Trillanes explained the system in the Senate, saying that the decision of the upper chamber is based on the decision of the majority.
The former senator noted that the delay in the process for the impeachment trial may be because the majority rejects the idea of the convenement.
“The fact na hindi po nangyayari ‘yung impeachment trial, ibig sabihin no’n, yan ang pasya ng mayorya. Kaya wala pong choice ‘yong Senate President but to abide by that,” he stated.
Trillanes added: “Ngayon, maaaring wala syang direct na consensus, pero nalalagay po sa alanganin ang kanyang Senate presidency kung susuwayin nya ang kagustuhan nung iba’t ibang bloke dyan.“
It can be recalled that since the House of Representatives impeached Duterte, Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero has firmly reiterated that the Senate will not convene as an impeachment court while the session is on break.
Based on the proposed schedule of the Senate for the impeachment, the target date for the start of the trial and presentation of the evidence is set on July 30, if agreed by the majority.
Escudero, however, argued that despite the session break, Senate members are thoroughly preparing for the trial.
Trillanes said that he understands the current situation of Escudero, as well as his responsibilities as the president of the Upper Chamber.
Despite this, he said that he does not personally agree on the impeachment delay, saying that the Senate can convene as an impeachment court even without a regular session.
Trillanes cited his experience as a former senator of the impeachment court during the impeachment of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona in 2012, where they conducted both the legislative and impeachment duties of the Senate.
“Kung gusto, may paraan. Kung ayaw, ang daming dahilan. Marami kasing nagsasabi na kailangan daw regular session—wala po ‘yan sa Konstitusyon. Ang nakalagay doon kapag na-transmit sa inyo, forthwith, mag-p-proceed yung trial. Walang sinabi dyan na kailangan during regular session. Hiwalay sya sa legislative functions ng Senado,” Trillanes noted.
“Kailangan lang nila magkaroon ng quorum, mag-take oath sila as Senator judges, then they can set the trial dates. Separate ‘yan sa legislative dates,” the former senator added.
In a personal stance, he said that the majority of the senate members may opt to play safe in this issue, citing that the results of the elections remain uncertain.
“Sa pulso ko po doon sa mga nakaupo ngayon, hindi nila gustong mangyari ‘yan. especially yung mga kakandidato—ayaw nila na malalagay sa compromising situation,” he said.
“Yung future ay hindi pa na-de-determine. Maraming senador ang feeling nila, liyamado si Sara going to 2028—so iniisip nila baka kapusin sila dyan. Kung maraming political calculations na nangyari at this point, sadly hindi kasama sa calculations nila yung national interest —kung ano yung tamang gagawin,” Trillano emphasized.