Kinontra ni retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Adolf Azcuna ang pahayag ni Senate President Chiz Escudero na “legally cannot be done” ang impeachment trial ng Senado laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte.
“Kahit na they (Senado) are on recess, dapat umpisahan nila. They still exist even though they are in recess. They can still be commanded by the Constitution to do something other than law-making, and impeachment is like that,” ani Azcuna.
Dating miyembro ng executive committee na bumuo sa 1987 Constitution, iginiit ni Azcuna na ang sinasabi ni Escudero na hindi maaaring mag-convene ang Kongreso kapag session break ay para lamang sa aspeto ng paggawa ng batas—at hindi paggawa ng batas ang impeachment.
“Ibang poder itong impeachment kesa law-making. Therefore, ibang rules ang mag-apply dito tungkol sa timing,” sabi ni Azcuna nitong Pebrero 12, sinabing ang probisyon sa proseso ng impeachment ay nakapaloob sa Article on Accountability of Public Officers (Article XI) at hindi sa Article on Legislative Power (Article VI).
“It follows that the procedures mandated under this Article on Accountability are not constrained by matters of legislative calendars providing for periods of recess and temporary adjournments from the work of legislation under Article VI,” paliwanag ni Azcuna sa isang Facebook post nitong Pebrero 11.
“Article XI says once the complaint or resolution of impeachment, signed and verified (meaning under oath) by at least one-third of the members of the House, is filed, it constitutes the Articles of Impeachment, and trial by the Senate shall forthwith proceed,” dagdag niya.
“So even if the Senators are on legislative recess, they have to convene, take the required oaths or affirmations, and proceed to trial,” diin ni Azcuna. “There is no need for a call. The provision of Article XI is the call. It is, in fact and in law, an order.”