00:00The court, through the presiding officer, has enlisted the assistance of the following distinguished Amici Curie
00:05to aid the court in its resolution of questions concerning the proper interpretation and application of Article 11, Section 3
00:13.6 of the Constitution.
00:14The word members refers to living persons who are not suffering from any mental, physical, or health conditions,
00:22which render them incapable of exercising their powers or performing their duties as senators,
00:27or who are prohibited to do so by reason of some legal restraints or impediments.
00:33This is the spirit of the provision. It could not be otherwise.
00:38Is it truthful and fair to allow senators to cast their votes despite being absent from the proceedings?
00:46Is it fair and truthful should these senators be allowed to vote though they are in hiding,
00:54abroad, legally detained, sick, hospitalized, or otherwise absent and have not been able to access and examine the documents,
01:06have not heard the testimonies, and have not observed the demeanor of the witnesses?
01:12I respectfully submit, however, that it is inappropriate to give Article 11, Section 3.6 a standalone, literal reading.
01:35If we give this kind of reading to Article 11, Section 3.6,
01:44the threshold of 16 senators to convict will be fixed and immutable.
01:55I respectfully submit, Your Honours, that the reference in this provision is to all members of the Senate.
02:07As long as they are members of the Senate, they constitute the denominator and computing the threshold of two-thirds,
02:18because all means all.
02:21And then I have to hear NBI, Director, making statements that make it appear that I'm a common fugitive.
02:30Na, na-monitor niya kung nasan ako, at meron siyang information kung ano araw ako babalik.
02:39Am I a fugitive?
02:41Bakit may ganito?
02:43So, I will tell you all now, am I pressured?
02:50So, are you telling us na kami ang mag-decide, hindi pwede ang Constitution, ang Supreme Court?
02:56Is that what you're driving at po kanina?
03:00Na kayo, bilang halal ng bayan, kayo magdidesisyon.
03:04Hindi po ang Korte Suprema dapat.
03:07Sapagkat kung ang ginisto ng ating Constitution,
03:11ang magdesisyon ng Supreme Court, dapat hindi na kayo.
03:14Ang hinahanap po ng ating bayan ay justisya mula sa Senado.
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