I take it all back. No more giving SP Chiz Escudero the benefit of the doubt. There is just no defending or excusing the way he entertained Senator Bato‘s motion to dismiss the verified impeachment complaint on grounds that it violated the one-year ban, which was eagerly endorsed and helped along by Senator Alan Peter, both even claiming to be inspired by the Holy Spirit. E di wow.
As Senator Risa Hontiveros clearly pointed out:
… if there is a motion to dismiss the case, it should come from the camp of the vice president, and not from a senator-judge.
“A motion to dismiss is not found, hindi po ito nahahanap, itong motion to dismiss, sa rules of impeachment na literal kaa-adopt lang natin. At kung meron man, hindi senator-judge ang magraise noon, pero ang defendant. Si Vice President Sara Duterte ang magre-raise niyan. Higit pa po, naniniwala ako na hindi tayo pwedeng kumilos unilaterally sa dismissal ng impeachment complaint nang hindi pa natin naririnig ni isang salita mula sa prosecution, ni isang salita mula sa defense, tungkol doon sa di umanong constitutional infirmities ng impeachment complaint. Ang due process ay nagre-require na bigyan natin pareho ang prosecution at ang defense ng oportunidad na madinig sa bagay na ito,” Hontiveros said. https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/
Nakagalit din na hinayaang “mag-abogado” para sa VP sina Bato, Imee, Go, at Robin, with their privilege speeches about “more important things”, taking their oath “with reservations”, and some, Imee, Robin, and Cynthia Villar, refusing to wear the judges’ gowns.
I seriously wonder how Presiding Officer Juan Ponce Enrile (circa Corona) would have handled these brats.
Meanwhile, BRAVO to the five senators who stood tall against the “remand”: Risa, Koko Pimentel, Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, and Win Gatchalian! May your tribes increase!
TONY LA VIÑA: ATM raging against the dying of the light, being interviewed by several Mindanao radio stations where many minds and hearts have to be converted. This is a teaching moment and I will maximize this opportunity.
1. The so-called remand order by the Senate to the House of Representatives is patently – on its face – unconstitutional and illegal. It violates the constitution provisions on impeachment that requires a trial once articles of impeachment are presented before the Senate. It also violates the co-equal nature of the two legislative houses.
2. Since the remand is illegal and unconstitutional, it is without legal effect. Nada. The House of Representatives should ignore it. Its designated impeachment managers or prosecutors should proceed as planned to the Senate of the 20th Congress which must immediately begin the trial. The good thing is the Senate issued summons against the VP and she must reply to that.
3. While illegal and unconstitutional, the act of the Senate yesterday has political value and is tantamount to a vindication of Sara Duterte. It is a license to steal from the public, a permit to act with impunity. It it is therefore inmoral and must be objected to vigorously and passionately.
4. Let us all rage against the dying of the light. On the eve on Independence Day, when we celebrate the Philippine Revolution, let us recall the courage of those that came before us.
https://www.facebook.com/tonylavs/posts/pfbid089bLbqhBijXnmzWk7wYoAaYqbMD1ttm4dy66QHWu81V8GQYWWKUYMWDiMQPwhpmJl