Senators: We are ready for impeachment trial

(Updated 7:03 p.m.) The Senate is all set to take on the impeachment complaint against Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez once it is elevated by the House of Representatives to the chamber, senators said on Tuesday. "The impeachment is part of the work of the Senate, therefore, we are always ready for it," Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III told reporters on Tuesday. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada also told reporters in a separate interview on Tuesday that the Senate is ready to accept the articles of impeachment.
Senator Franklin Drilon explained that their technical staff would have the "institutional knowledge" on how to handle the impeachment trial because they had already handled similar proceedings against former President Joseph Estrada 10 years ago. Sen. Estrada noted, however, that it might take some time to craft the rules of impeachment. "Gagawa pa ng rules. Matatagalan pa yun [We still have to craft the rules. That will take some time]," he said. Sotto added that the senators will still have to meet in a caucus to determine the timetable to be followed by the Senate for the proceedings. He noted that it is "impossible" to finish all the processes after the Lower House transmits the articles of impeachment on March 22, three days before Congress goes on break. "We will probably (be) going into trial by May if the impeachment arrives at the Senate (by March 22)," Sotto added, as he expressed doubts that the Senate will call for a special session during the break. Congress will resume session on May 9. Drilon, for his part, said he also does not know whether there would be any changes in the rules although he expressed confidence that there won't be any "serious delay" in the proceedings just because of the adoption of the rules. "We just have to review it whether there is a need for updating," he said. Orders to impeach Merci? Administration Senator Francis Pangilinan had earlier asked Gutierrez to resign even before the impeachment proceedings reach the Senate because the trial will only bring the legislative process to a “standstill." However, Drilon and Senator Teofisto Guingona III denied that the Liberal Party (LP) senators were ordered by President Benigno Aquino III to impeach Gutierrez, like their counterparts in the House of Representatives. "Walang directive order. Wala kaming naririnig, natatanggap (There was no such directive. We were not told anything, we did not receive anything)," said Guingona, also an LP member, in a separate interview on Tuesday. Drilon, as LP vice-chairman, likewise said no LP senator attended Monday's meeting where Aquino supposedly met their counterparts in the House of Representatives. "We don’t want to provide any issue where we can (be accused of) partisanship," he said. Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile had also earlier said that there was no need to assure Gutierrez that the Senate would be impartial during the proceedings. The impeachment process Section 3, Article XI of the 1987 Constitution says that the House of Representatives shall have the exclusive power to initiate all cases of impeachment while the Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all the cases of impeachment. It says that a verified complaint for impeachment may be filed by any member of the House of Representatives or by any citizen upon a resolution or endorsement by any member of the House. The complaint shall be referred to the proper House Committee, which shall conduct a hearing on the issue and by majority vote, submit a report and a resolution to the House for consideration within 60 days. The Constitution says a vote of at least one-third of all the members of the House of Representatives shall be necessary to either affirm or override a resolution with the Articles of Impeachment of the committee. If an affirmative vote is cast, the Senate will proceed with the impeachment proceedings. According to the Constitution, judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than removal from office and disqualification to hold any office. However, its says that the party convicted shall still be liable and subject to prosecution, trial, and punishment, according to law. No person shall likewise be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all members of the Senate. When the President of the Philippines is on trial, the chief justice of the Supreme Court shall preside. In the case of Gutierrez, Enrile will be the one to preside over the proceedings. - VVP/JV, GMA News