Ex-IBP chief: Senate can't dismiss VP Sara impeachment via resolution
Former Integrated Bar of the Philippines President (IBP) Atty. Domingo Cayosa on Tuesday said the Senate cannot dismiss the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte through a Senate resolution.
'Hindi ho pwede 'yun, ano (that's not allowed),' Cayosa said on Unang Balita.
Cayosa's statement comes after Senator Robin Padilla on Monday filed a resolution seeking to declare as terminated the impeachment proceedings against Duterte.
In his Senate Resolution 1371, Padilla said that the 19th Congress will adjourn sine die on Friday, June 13, and thus, "all pending matters and proceedings shall terminate upon the expiration of one (1) Congress."
Previously, Senator Ronald 'Bato' Dela Rosa also admitted that he was also behind a Senate resolution seeking to dismiss the impeachment case against Duterte.
Dela Rosa and Padilla are known allies of the Duterte family.
Cayosa, meanwhile, urged senators to maintain a semblance of impartiality in the impeachment process.
"Nakakalungkot lang 'yan sapagkat malinaw naman ang kanilang role bilang hukom,' Cayosa said.
(It's just unfortunate because their role as judges is clearly defined.)
'Saan ka nakakita ng sitwasyon na kung saan handang-handa ang prosecution, handang-handa ang depensa, pero 'yung hukom sasabihin nila ayaw nila?' he added.
(Where have you seen a situation where the prosecution is fully prepared, the defense is fully prepared, but the judges say they don't want to proceed?)
'Impractical'
Cayosa also said that it is 'impractical' to finish the trial in 19 days, as proposed by Senator Francis Tolentino.
'Sa tingin ko ho mahihirapan sila. Wag naman sana— dinelay na nga nila ito. Ngayong sinimulan, eh papaspasan naman," Cayosa said.
(I think they will have a hard time. Hopefully not— they already delayed this. Now that it has started, they're rushing it.)
"You know, everybody must be given due process,' added Cayosa.
'Kagagawan ho nila 'yung delay eh. So wag naman ho nila gawing rason 'yan para i-railroad kung ano man ito,' he added.
(The delay was their doing, so they shouldn't use that as a reason to railroad whatever this is.)
According to Cayosa, the senators should also not worry about the trial carrying over to the 20th Congress.
''Yun ho ang sinasabi ng Constitution, 'yun ho ang sinasabi ng jurisprudence, at 'yun ho ang sinusunod ng ibang impeachment courts na kagaya ng ating istraktura sa Pilipinas,' he said.
(That's what the Constitution says, that's what jurisprudence says, and that's what other impeachment courts similar to our structure in the Philippines also follow.)
On Monday night, Senate President Francis Escudero took his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court in the trial of the Vice President.
The rest of the senators are expected to take their oaths as senator-judges in the impeachment trial at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. —Joahna Lei Casilao/ VAL, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
11 hours ago
- GMA Network
VP Sara Duterte: Marcos ‘has the hallmark of a scammer'
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. "has not followed through with any of his campaign promises, and that is an example of the conflict with regard to our president," Vice President Sara Duterte said in an interview in Melbourne, Australia on June 22, 2025. Vice President Sara Duterte on Sunday slammed the performance of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., saying he has 'the hallmark of a scammer.' In an interview during a support rally in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday, Duterte said that she bore 'no ill feelings' towards her former Uniteam partner, but said that she found problems with his performance. 'I have no ill feelings with him with regard to the political persecution that I am receiving from the administration because that is part of the life of a politician. I have problems with his performance as president and I have problems with the violations of our fundamental law, our constitution, particularly with the rendition of former President [Rodrigo] Duterte. That was really an affront to Philippine sovereignty,' she said. The Duterte camp has maintained that the former President, the Vice President's father, was "kidnapped" when he was arrested on a warrant from the International Criminal Court and brought to The Hague to stand trial for alleged crimes against humanity. Duterte also claimed that Marcos gave conflicting statements, following his comments that he '[chose] not to' influence the impeachment courts. 'He has not followed through with any of his campaign promises, and that is an example of the conflict with regard to our president. And, well, 'budol' in English is 'scam,' no? We're not surprised. He has the hallmark of a scammer,' she added. Duterte also confirmed her office's statement that she has no intention of attending Marcos' State of the Nation Address next month, saying Marcos would not be 'providing anything substantial about [the] country.' 'It would be best to spend that time with the Filipino community, discussing what we can do for the country and to improve the country,' she said. Duterte also skipped Marcos's SONA last year, saying she had appointed herself the "designated survivor." — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
11 hours ago
- GMA Network
VP Sara Duterte to reply to Ombudsman ‘within required period'
Vice President Sara Duterte said that the Office of the Vice President (OVP) will be submitting its response to the Ombudsman "within the required period," as her impeachment trial looms. The Ombudsman had directed Duterte to respond to the charges filed by the House of Representatives in connection with the alleged misuse of confidential funds. She was given 10 days to respond to the order, which was issued on June 19. In an interview during a support rally in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday, Duterte said that her team of lawyers informed her that an answer was being prepared for the Ombudsman. "As we speak, the lawyers are already preparing for the answer and the lawyers informed me that we will provide the answer within the period required within 10 days," she said. Duterte is also facing another deadline—she has until Monday, June 23, to respond to a summons from the Senate sitting as the impeachment court in her trial. The summons, served on June 11, also gave Duterte a "non-extendible" period of 10 days to respond to the articles of impeachment against her. Since the 10th day from the issuance, June 21, fell on a Saturday, Duterte will have until Monday to respond. Former associate justice Antonio Carpio has said that Duterte will lose her right to answer should she fail to submit her reply to the summons within the period. He stated that her lack of response will not stop the proceedings. During the interview, Duterte also said she has been preparing to respond to an impeachment since November 2023. 'The moment that we heard Representative [France] Castro from the House of Representatives mentioned the word impeachment. So we've been preparing for this and we've hired lawyers since 2023, so they will answer… We will provide the answer within 10 days,' she said. The Vice President also said that her visit to Australia was not a holiday, following remarks from Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro questioning whether her trip was personal or official. 'I do not like traveling at all except for holidays, and clearly I am not on holiday for this trip. I am here to discuss with the Filipino community on ways forward for our country, and of course how we can push the administration to do more for our country,' Duterte said. 'The Philippine government should not discount the contributions of the Filipino communities worldwide… It's good to sit down and discuss with them,' she added. — BM, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
18 hours ago
- GMA Network
VP Sara: PH not ready for war as Marcos admin lacks plan, direction
The Philippines is ill-equipped for war or any "global shock" due to the Marcos administration's lack of plan and direction, Vice President Sara Duterte said Sunday. Duterte made the statements in a speech to supporters during a 'Free Duterte Now' rally in Melbourne, Australia. 'We are not prepared for drawing change, we are not prepared for war, we are not prepared for global shock because there is no plan at all, there is no vision at all,' said Duterte who is in the country on a personal visit. 'I've been a member of the cabinet, and there was no direction at all, so we need to come together and push for the administration to give what is rightfully for the country,' she added. Duterte also expressed her disapproval of the United States deployment of the Typhon missile system in the Philippines. Instead, she maintained the Philippines should not take sides and should balance its foreign relations with different countries. 'Iyong problema natin sa West Philippine Sea, does not make up our entire relations with China. And so, therefore, there is no reason for you to lean towards the US. You have to always stay in the middle because you are not a part of the bigger conflict,' Duterte said. Aside from being elected Vice President, Duterte was also the secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) until she quit in June 2024. Among the criticism she also leveled at the government, the Vice President also decried what she claims is the country's inefficiency in climate resilience and the lack of a long-term plan to make the country self-sufficient in food. 'We don't take care of our farmers. We don't have a food security plan, and it is already the midterm of this administration, with no plans of doing plans, of creating plans. Nothing,' Duterte said. She noted that the administration should focus on the country's healthcare system, infrastructure development, food security, and education. GMA News Online has reached out to Malacañang for comments. Better legacy The Vice President explained that she teamed up with Marcos during the 2022 national elections since she thought he wanted a 'better' legacy compared to his father, former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. 'Ang buong akala ko dahil syempre diba (the whole time, I thought because) we had that dark past in our country and the principal figure of that was Marcos Sr, so I was thinking that he would want a legacy that is better than what we had before,' Duterte said, referring to the Martial Law during the elder Marcos' regime from 1972 to 1986. 'Unfortunately, I did not bet properly with my running mate, but you know I'm sure you have doubts with the Marcoses already,' she added. However, Duterte defended the President's sister, Senator Imee Marcos, whom she said had been her friend since 2012. 'Senator Imee Marcos is a different individual altogether, and she has been my friend since 2012. I met BBM in 2020 when they visited Davao City,' Duterte said. Just two years after the Uniteam's successful campaign in the 2022 national elections, Duterte, who originally wanted to assume the post of defense secretary, stepped down from her post in DepEd. She also resigned from Lakas-CMD as its chairperson and a member, saying that she won't be able to serve the country amid "political toxicity' or undermined by "execrable political powerplay." The Vice President is now facing an impeachment complaint, which includes issues surrounding the use of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, and alleged involvement in extrajudicial killings in Davao City. The complaint also includes her 'assassination' remarks against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez. —RF, GMA Integrated News
