00:00In June, the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will be held again after the session of the Congress.
00:07Together with the 12 senators who will win the 2025 elections.
00:13May I report to you, Joseph Moro.
00:15Afternoon of Monday, June 2, 2025.
00:19Thank you, Mr. President.
00:21This is the last day of the session of the Congress.
00:23Yesterday, the Senate endorsed the articles of impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte
00:29because the Congress is on a break.
00:31There will be no impeachment trial until the session returns in June.
00:36If there will be an action, it will happen on June 2,
00:42when the Senate will resume after the election.
00:47We cannot hasten it.
00:49On December 2024, three impeachment complaints were filed against VP Sara.
00:54Yesterday, the Senate brought forth the fourth impeachment complaint signed by the 215th congressman.
01:01If they keep on banging and banging on this,
01:04maybe they don't have a basis to make it easy for us.
01:08Maybe it's not right for them to sit on this for months.
01:13Suddenly, they will force us and tell us, whoever came to the camera,
01:18to hurry up and take action.
01:21Do you agree?
01:22No.
01:23It's not like that and I will not allow it.
01:25There are many things that need to be done,
01:27such as verifying the presence of congressmen in the impeachment complaint.
01:31It should be questioned in front of the Secretary General of the Camera.
01:35The Secretary of the Senate will examine the signatures one by one.
01:40It is prohibited to do so.
01:43According to Scudero, if we will base the remaining days of the 19th Congress,
01:47the impeachment trial will reach the 20th Congress.
01:51It means that, along with the decision of whether VP Sara is convicted or not,
01:55there will be 12 senators who will win the election in May.
01:59Senator Amy Marcos is the one who will not fight the impeachment.
02:02I was ballistic. I was really, really angry.
02:06I don't want a mess of impeachment.
02:10I also don't want destabilization.
02:12In May, it will be known if 11 congressmen will be re-elected as impeachment prosecutors.
02:18If ever we have a new composition of the 20th Congress,
02:20then I think they will just elect a new set of prosecutors if ever.
02:24It does not stop the process.
02:28When the impeachment trial starts, VP Sara can be called.
02:32As a lawyer, VP Sara can defend herself.
02:36VP Sara has the right to waive her appearance.
02:39But if she is called and refused to attend,
02:41the Senate has the power to issue a subpoena.
02:44If pleadings and arguments are presented,
02:47it is in the hands of the senators if VP Sara will be removed from her position.
02:51The senators are one by one asked to rule on each and every charge.
02:58It only requires one charge to convict her,
03:01then she will be removed from office and be barred from any public office in our Republic.
03:07If impeached, the maximum punishment is to be removed from office
03:11and a lifelong disqualification in running for office in the government.
03:16But retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Adolfo Escuna said
03:20that one of the provisions of the 1987 Constitution,
03:23the sentence can be lower.
03:25There are instances where they also decide to impose, in case of conviction, justice censure.
03:32Yes, she can still remain in her position, notwithstanding the censure or reprimand,
03:38because it is short of removal.
03:41She can also be charged with a criminal case after her appearance.
03:45If VP Sara is impeached, can she be pardoned by the President?
03:49I believe the President has the power, the pardoning power,
03:53even in case of impeachment.
03:58The Constitution is silent on that.
04:01I don't think the President can reinstate an official that has been removed by impeachment.
04:09Maybe he can't.
04:11The pardon, I think, is for removing the perpetual disqualification.
04:17No, there's no pardon because it's an admin case, not a criminal case.
04:22Joseph Morong reporting for GMA Integrated News.
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