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Impeachment ‘a political scheme’ – Baste

by Nova Mae Francas
written by Nova Mae Francas

by Nova Mae Francas

ACTING Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte reiterated on Friday that the impeachment case against his sister, Vice President Sara Duterte, is, from the very start, just a political scheme.

“Sa simula pa lang kasi talaga it’s purely political. Hindi ko lang maintindihan bakit hindi nila binibigyan ng respeto yung en banc decision ng Supreme Court. That’s a heavy statement coming from the judiciary,” Duterte told reporters in a sideline interview after the opening of the Kadayawan Festival at Magsaysay Park on Aug. 8.

Asked about his position on the Senate decision to archive the impeachment case against the vice president, he said the SC should be respected.

“May decision yung Korte Suprema and yet they still want to push the issue. Para sa akin kailangan respetuhin talaga ang Supreme Court because there are three separate branches of government, coequal branches. So, bakit marami pa tayong pinag-uusapan? They already made the decision, and that should be final,” the acting mayor said. 

“I’m going to say what I said before, from the beginning it’s a political scheme, it’s a mere campaign against the vice president,” he added.

He recognized the House of Representatives’ filing of a motion for reconsideration, noting, “It is what democracy is all about.” Nonetheless, he stressed that the Higher Court has already decided on the issue.

Duterte, meanwhile, told opposition lawmakers condemning the decision of the Senate to archive, “they are free to say whatever they want for democracy’s sake.”

“If you don’t have the numbers, you can’t have the cake, the prize,” he stressed.

He took a swipe at President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when the president said the executive department does not have a role in the impeachment proceedings during his visit to India.

“I don’t really think it matters what he says, because nothing really comes out of his mouth that is worth listening to,” Duterte said.

The Senate on Wednesday, Aug. 6, approved the motion of Senator Rodante Marcoleta to adhere to the immediate executory decision of the SC en banc, effectively archiving the impeachment complaint against the vice president. 

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Shift to SC: Sara’s defense team to respond to MR filed by Lower House

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron

THE DEFENSE team of Vice President Sara Duterte acknowledged the Senate’s decision to set aside the articles of impeachment pending the Supreme Court’s ruling on the motion for reconsideration filed by the House of Representatives.

In a brief statement, Atty. Michael Wesley T. Poa, speaking on behalf of the defense team, said, “The Defense Team acknowledges the Senate’s decision to adhere to the Supreme Court ruling and archive the Articles of Impeachment.”

 “Our focus now remains on submitting our comment, in compliance with the High Court’s Order,” Poa added.

On Tuesday, Aug. 5, the High Court issued an order giving the vice president and his legal team 10 days to comment on the 70-page motion filed by the Lower House, represented by the Office of the Solicitor General. 

The motion seeks to overturn the earlier Supreme Court ruling striking down the articles of impeachment as unconstitutional and void ab initio.

On Wednesday, Aug. 6, the Senate mothballed the articles of impeachment on a vote of 19-4 and 1 abstention in deference to the Supreme Court ruling. 

The session began with a privilege speech by Senator Rodante Marcoleta, who urged the Senate to dismiss the case, citing the Supreme Court’s 13-0 en banc decision. 

The Supreme Court’s ruling found the complaint to violate the one-year constitutional bar rule procedurally defective and outside the Senate’s jurisdiction, as the complaint itself was unconstitutional. 

In response, senators Vicente Sotto, Risa Hontiveros, Bam Aquino, and Kiko Pangilinan filed a “motion to table” Marcoleta’s proposal, arguing that the Supreme Court’s ruling was not yet final and executory due to a pending motion for reconsideration from the House of Representatives. 

They maintained that the Senate has the sole constitutional authority to try impeachment cases.

However, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano intervened, emphasizing the importance of respecting the Supreme Court’s authority. 

Cayetano proposed an amendment to Marcoleta’s motion, changing it from a “motion to dismiss” to a “motion to archive,” which was agreed upon by Marcoleta. Archiving formally sets the matter aside, and it can only be revived through a formal motion.

Senators who voted to ARCHIVE (19): Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Bato Dela Rosa, Robin Padilla, Mark Villar, Camille Villar, Imee Marcos, Lito Lapid, Raffy Tulfo, Erwin Tulfo, Jinggoy Estrada, JV Ejercito, Joel Villanueva, Migz Zubiri, Bong Go, Loren Legarda, Sherwin Gatchalian, Rodante Marcoleta, and Chiz Escudero.

Senators who voted to TABLE (4): Tito Sotto, Risa Hontiveros, Kiko Pangilinan, and Bam Aquino

Abstained: Ping Lacson

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‘We deserve better’

by Rhoda Grace Saron
written by Rhoda Grace Saron
  • Sara hails SC impeachment ruling, thanks supporters for fighting HOR ‘abuses’ 

VICE PRESIDENT Sara Z. Duterte on Wednesday lauded the Supreme Court’s decision to declare the fourth impeachment complaint against her unconstitutional, expressing profound gratitude to her legal team, petitioners, and supporters.

In a statement released shortly after the High Court’s ruling (G.R. No. 278359), Duterte extended her “heartfelt gratitude to the members of the Defense Team for taking on my case, even when no one else was willing to stand by me.”

She also thanked the petitioners of G.R. No. 278359 “for having the conviction to challenge the abuses of the House of Representatives.” 

The vice president acknowledged those “whose voices rang out in dissent against persecution,” stating that their “courage to speak the truth has been a source of strength.”

Furthermore, Duterte expressed appreciation for the “parents, children, and silent supporters who offered their prayers for justice,” noting that their “quiet faith lifts me up.”

The vice president also reiterated her broader commitment to the nation, asserting, “Our country deserves better, and we shall stand tall, strong, and resilient against leaders whose greed will bring down our homeland. We deserve better.”

She concluded her message with a patriotic call to action in Filipino: “Mahalin natin ang Pilipinas — para sa Diyos, bayan at bawat pamilyang Pilipino (Let us love the Philippines — for God, country, and every Filipino family).”

The Supreme Court struck down the Articles of Impeachment submitted to the Senate as unconstitutional for violating the one-year ban rule. Meanwhile, House of Representatives Speaker Martin Romualdez instructed fellow lawmakers to file a motion for reconsideration to reverse the unanimous decision, 13-0, by the justices.

Atty. Princess Abante, the HOR spokesperson, insisted that lawmakers did not violate procedures when they processed all four impeachment complaints. For instance, the three initial complaints were included in the Order of Business within the proscribed period.

“The fourth complaint, signed and verified by more than one-third of House Members, effectively constituted the Articles of Impeachment and was transmitted directly to the Senate, rendering the earlier complaints moot and subject to archiving,” she pointed out.

The fourth complaint, which became the final Articles of Impeachment transmitted to the Senate, was endorsed by 215 lawmakers in February this year.

Photo courtesy of Inday Sara Facebook page

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