00:00Some members of the House Prosecution Panel believe that there is no need for a special session of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
00:09to start the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
00:15They say that the Senate can do this at any time even if it's during a session break.
00:20This is what Mela Las Moras wrote.
00:23One of the members of the 11-man House Prosecution Panel, Manila 3rd District Rep. Joel Chua,
00:31whose party was formed by the Camera, is now in the Senate for the impeachment trial against Vice President Sara Duterte.
00:41Now that the anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution is approaching,
00:45one of the groups that is being called upon is hoping that the trial against the Vice President can start.
00:52According to Chua, there is no need for a special session for this.
00:56At any time, the Senate can convene as an impeachment court even if it's during a session break.
01:03There is nothing to do with this.
01:06Impeachment is the work of the Senate and the work of the Congress.
01:12There is nothing in our law that says that Malacanang should call for a special session.
01:23This is a sui generis. It means that it's going against the law.
01:27That's why I believe that the Senate can continue the impeachment proceeding.
01:37Other House Impeachment Prosecutors, including City Representative Isabel Zamora and One-Rider Partylist Representative Rodge Gutierrez,
01:46are also in favor of this.
01:47First, the Makabayan Black called on President Ferdinand R. Marquez Jr. to call for a special session.
01:54But he also called on several House leaders.
01:57I disagree in this case with the position of the Makabayan Black.
02:02The critics of our government may say that if the President requests for a special session,
02:09they may say that it would translate into influencing the Senator judges and they may say that this is a political move.
02:16There are many opinions, different opinions coming from different sides, pro or anti legal opinions.
02:24The ball is in the Senate. It's up to them if they will shoot or pass.
02:29Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has also commented on the petition of Vice President Duterte,
02:35who is questioning his impeachment.
02:38Even though congressmen are waiting for a copy of the law from the Supreme Court,
02:43they are ready to follow it.
02:45For now, the House Prosecution Panel will continue to help them prepare for whatever will happen.
02:52Mela Lesmora for Pambansan TV in Bagong, Philippines.
