As the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte advance to the Senate, a key figure among the 11 appointed prosecutors hinted at the potential necessity for senators aligned with Duterte to recuse themselves. During a discussion at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, Manila 3rd District Representative Joel Chua mentioned that the topic of senators’ inhibitions would be on the agenda once the prosecution panel officially assembles. Chua expressed openness to the idea, stating, ‘We’ll see if that’s possible,’ in reference to the suggestion that Duterte’s allies in the Senate should step aside during the trial. He emphasized the importance of waiting for the team to come together before exploring all available options. Chua also speculated that some senators might choose to withdraw voluntarily, driven by a sense of propriety. He underscored the strategic importance of senators’ participation or abstention in what he described as a ‘numbers game.’ Among those identified as Duterte’s allies in the Senate are Senators Ronald Dela Rosa, Christopher Go, Robinhood Padilla, and Imee Marcos, the president’s sister. Additionally, Chua mentioned that the panel would consider the scenario of the Vice President resigning, despite her previous dismissal of such a possibility. He concluded by affirming his trust in the senators to fulfill their responsibilities to the Filipino people. The House of Representatives forwarded the impeachment articles, endorsed by 215 members, to the Senate on February 5, but the Senate postponed any discussion until June 2. In a recent media interaction, Duterte remained optimistic but limited her comments on the impeachment, noting only that her legal team has been preparing for this eventuality for some time.
House Prosecutor Suggests Senate Allies May Need to Step Back in VP Duterte’s Impeachment Trial
·
