Vice President Sara Duterte speaks to the media at the Office of The Vice President in Mandaluyong City on December 11, 2024, after skipping on the same day a National Bureau of Investigation probe on her remarks of having  President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assassinated should she be killed. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) -- The months-long wait for the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, which the Senate President proposed to begin on July 30 or more than five months since the articles of impeachment were elevated to the upper chamber of Congress, works to the benefit of the VP, according to House Assistant Majority Leader and TINGOG Party List Representative Jude Acidre.

The lawmaker issued the statement as he urged the Senate not to drown the impeachment proceedings in technicalities. Acidre cited civil society groups that are planning to gather one million signatures to call on the Senate to begin the trial without delay, as mandated by the Constitution.

“Hindi na siguro kailangan ng public clamor. Kasi tungkulin at mandato naman ng Senado na dinggin ang anumang impeachment complaint na dumarating sa kanila. At hindi para iwasan o lunurin ito sa technicality. Mas maganda siguro na simulan na lang 'yung trial,“ Acidre said.

“I think, to be honest, the one to benefit from this is the person in question— syempre, ang Pangalawang Pangulo. Habang hindi po dinidinig ang impeachment trial, mas lalong nagkakaroon ng sense of impunity. Parang hindi sineseryoso ‘yung mga nakita naming mga krimen o ‘di kaya ay pagkukulang doon sa Kagawaran ng Edukasyon at sa tanggapan ng Pangalawang Pangulo,“ he added.

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For House Assistant Majority Leader and Taguig City 2nd District Representative Pammy Zamora, the upcoming May polls could be a major consideration in the proposed impeachment schedule by Senate President Francis Escudero, which he said most senators approve.

“They could be protecting the interests of the Vice President, but mostly they're protecting themselves because we're in the middle of campaigning... A lot of dissenters are re-electionists and that's why this (impeachment trial) is not happening. Magpakatotoo tayo, ‘yun lang ang rason bakit hindi nangyayari, kasi nasa kalagitnaan tayo ng kampanyahan. And marami sa ating mga senador ang ayaw makasakit sa kung kani-kaninong supporters,” Zamora said.

"Baka sarili nila ang kanilang pinoprotektahan, political career nila, o ‘di kaya ang bise president... Pero isa lang ang klaro sa akin. Sa pagdelay nito, hindi nila pinoprotektahan ang posisyon ng ating mga kababayan. Hindi nila pinoprotektahan ang ating republika,” Acidre added.

“Hindi sila mananagot sa batas, pero siguro mananagot na lang sila sa taong bayan na pinag-aantay nila,” Zamora noted.

She hopes that if the Senate has completely closed its doors on holding Duterte’s impeachment trial before the May elections, it would at least begin the trial immediately after the polls.

“I am of the belief once again, na hindi naman ito mauumpisahan hangga’t hindi matapos ang eleksyon, so sana pagkatapos ng eleksyon, masimulan na ang proseso,” Zamora said.

Escudero: Most senators OK July 30 start of Sara Duterte impeachment trial

Asked about the inclusion of Former Department of Education and Office of the Vice President Spokesperson Michael Poa to Duterte’s legal team for her Supreme Court petition seeking to block her impeachment trial, Acidre suspects it could be an effort to prevent him from testifying in the proceedings before the Senate. 

“Pwede po silang magtago sa principle ng lawyer-client confidentiality. Makikita po natin ang isa na namang attempt to deflect… Sa hakbang na ito na ginawa ng kampo ni Vice President Duterte, sa tingin ko pagpigil ito para kay Mike Poa na tumestigo sa impeachment court at magsabi ng totoo,” he explained.

Escudero later fired back at Acidre for his claim,

If he does not want to, then why did they (the House) delay the filing of the complaint before the Senate by sitting on the three impeachment complaints for MORE THAN TWO MONTHS without referring it to the Speaker, despite their own rules (Section3) that state that their Sec Gen 'shall immediately' refer it to the speaker? " Escudero said in a statement when his comment was sought on Acidre's claim.

"As I have said, we will follow the law and the rules regardless of who it happens to benefit. We will not delay (and are not delaying) anything and neither will we unduly rush doing anything that is contrary to law simply because some sectors are asking for it," the Senate chief added.

"The law is the law and we will not bend nor violate it on the mere desire or ask of partisan and biased individuals or sectors. I will favor no one and will ensure a fair and equitable procedure that will render justice to all concerned."

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