Hontiveros: No reason for Senate to delay VP Sara’s impeachment trial

Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros (Photo: Senator Risa Hontiveros/Facebook)

By Wilnard Bacelonia, Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros on Wednesday reaffirmed her stance on the Senate’s constitutional duty to convene as an impeachment court to hear the case against Vice President Sara Duterte, stressing that there is no reason to delay the process.

During the regular Kapihan sa Senado forum, Hontiveros echoed Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel’s position that the Senate must act “forthwith” on the impeachment articles transmitted by the House of Representatives.

She noted that while Senate President Francis Escudero has cited procedural concerns regarding the Senate being in recess, there is no legal impediment to proceed with the trial.

“Walang pumipigil sa amin na i-tackle yung articles of impeachment at mag-constitute bilang impeachment court (Nothing stops us from tackling the articles of impeachment and constituting an impeachment court),” Hontiveros said, emphasizing that the Senate’s obligation to hold an impeachment trial is distinct from any legal challenges filed with the Supreme Court (SC).

Escudero previously indicated that the Senate might begin proceedings only in June, after the legislative break.

Hontiveros, however, argued that waiting four months is unnecessary and risks delaying justice.

Meanwhile, she welcomed Escudero’s plan to hold an all-senators caucus to discuss the impeachment trial, urging her colleagues to consider Pimentel’s legal argument that an impeachment trial is not bound by the Senate’s legislative calendar.

“Sana dun sa caucus na yun, mapakinggan ng aming mga kasama ang mga argumento ni Senator Koko (Pimentel) kung bakit di lamang pwede kundi dapat mag-convene na kami bilang impeachment court para i-treat, i-tackle yung articles of impeachment (I hope that in that caucus, our colleagues will be able to listen to Senator Koko’s arguments as to why it is not only possible, but we must convene as an impeachment court to treat and tackle the articles of impeachment),” she said.

As a Senate minority member, Hontiveros dismissed concerns about her impartiality, despite her party’s endorsement of an earlier impeachment complaint against Duterte.

She acknowledged forming opinions on Duterte’s governance based on past hearings but insisted that she would approach the impeachment trial with an open mind.

“Siyempre, nobody can completely divorce oneself or forget what has happened. At kahit yung mga nasa social media, syempre, resibo yun sa aming lahat. But the point is, as has been done by senators before and Senate before sa mga previous impeachment trials, yun yung hamon sa aming lahat at hamon din sa akin — to have that frame of mind na, okay, as if nagsisimula sa simula (Of course, nobody can completely divorce oneself or forget what has happened. And even those on social media, of course, that’s a proof for all of us. But the point is, as has been done by senators before and Senate before in the previous impeachment trials, that is the challenge for all of us and also a challenge for me — to have that frame of mind, okay, as if starting from the beginning),” she added.

With the midterm elections approaching, some people have speculated that re-electionist senators may be hesitant to act on the impeachment trial for fear of political repercussions.

Hontiveros acknowledged that it is a factor but emphasized that fulfilling constitutional duties should take precedence over election concerns, noting that impeachment is not based only on political issues but on transparency.

While the SC has yet to rule on petitions related to the impeachment, Hontiveros maintained that the Senate should act independently and not wait for judicial intervention.

The impeachment trial, if it proceeds, could lead to Duterte’s removal and perpetual disqualification from office, a scenario that Hontiveros acknowledged would have major political consequences.