The Senate should heed the call of law deans to proceed with the possible impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte not just because it comes from some of the country’s foremost legal minds, but because it is a constitutional mandate, Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson said Tuesday.
Lacson was referring to the statement of law deans and professors from leading Philippine law schools that refusing to convene as an impeachment court may expose senators to administrative and criminal liability.
“Not only is this a powerful statement coming from powerful legal minds of the country which the Senate should take seriously, but more importantly, it is what the Constitution unequivocally provides,” he said.
In Filipino: Lacson: Senado, Dapat Pakinggan ang Panawagan ng Mga Law Dean Para Ituloy ang Impeachment Trial
In a statement, the law deans and professors reminded the Senate that refusing to sit as a Court of Impeachment is not a constitutional option once the House of Representatives transmits to it the Articles of Impeachment.
They added that the refusal of public officers to perform a duty imposed by law, particularly by the Constitution, “constitutes dereliction of duty that is administratively actionable and conferring an undue advantage and benefit on a person not entitled to it is an indictable criminal offense under Republic Act No. 3019.”
Also, they urged Filipinos to “see to the faithful compliance by all public officers of their sworn duty to uphold the Constitution and to abide by the Rule of Law.”
Those who signed the statement included retired Supreme Court Justice Adolfo Azcuna, Antonio La Viña, Ranhilio Aquino, and Jemy Gatdula, and the deans and professors of various universities and law schools.
Earlier, Lacson said that if such a situation arises, he is prepared to oppose and vote against any motion to stop or delay the Senate’s convening as an impeachment court for the possible case of the Vice President.
Lacson also stressed that the Constitution and its legal mechanisms are in place to address any possible issues related to a potential impeachment trial, including moves to block the Senate from convening as an impeachment court.
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Lacson: Senado, Dapat Pakinggan ang Panawagan ng Mga Law Dean Para Ituloy ang Impeachment Trial
Dapat pakinggan ng Senado ang panawagan ng mga law dean na ituloy ang posibleng impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte — hindi lamang dahil ito ay mula sa ilan sa mga nangungunang legal minds ng bansa, kundi dahil ito ay isang mandato ng Konstitusyon, ayon kay Sen. Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson nitong Martes.
Tinukoy ni Lacson ang pahayag ng mga law dean at propesor mula sa mga nangungunang law school sa Pilipinas na nagsasabing ang pagtangging mag-convene bilang impeachment court ay maaaring magbukas ng pananagutan ng mga senador sa administratibo at kriminal na kaso.
“Not only is this a powerful statement coming from powerful legal minds of the country which the Senate should take seriously, but more importantly, it is what the Constitution unequivocally provides,” aniya.
Sa kanilang pahayag, pinaalalahanan ng mga law dean at propesor ang Senado na ang pagtangging umupo bilang Court of Impeachment ay hindi isang opsyong pinahihintulutan ng Konstitusyon sa sandaling maipasa na ng House of Representatives ang Articles of Impeachment.
Dagdag nila, ang pagtanggi ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno na gampanan ang tungkuling itinakda ng batas, lalo na ng Saligang Batas, ay parang “dereliction of duty” na “administratively actionable” – at ang pagbigay ng “undue advantage and benefit” ay isang “indictable criminal offense” sa ilalim ng Republic Act No. 3019.
Hinimok din nila ang mga Pilipino na tiyakin ang “faithful compliance by all public officers of their sworn duty to uphold the Constitution and to abide by the Rule of Law.”
Ang mga lumagda sa pahayag ay kinabibilangan nina dating Supreme Court Justice Adolfo Azcuna, Antonio La Viña, Ranhilio Aquino, at Jemy Gatdula, pati na rin ng mga dean at propesor mula sa iba’t ibang unibersidad at law school.
Nauna nang sinabi ni Lacson na kung mangyari ang ganitong sitwasyon, handa siyang tumutol at bumoto laban sa anumang mosyon na magpapahinto o magpapabalam sa pag-convene ng Senado bilang impeachment court sa posibleng kaso ng Bise Presidente.
Binigyang-diin din ni Lacson na nakalatag na ang Konstitusyon at ang mga umiiral na mekanismo nito upang tugunan ang anumang posibleng isyu kaugnay ng isang impeachment trial, kabilang ang mga hakbang upang pigilan ang pag-convene ng Senado bilang impeachment court.
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