‘Leila de Lima may take part in CJ Sereno impeachment trial’

MANILA, Philippines — If allowed by the courts, detained Sen. Leila de Lima may participate and even vote during the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said yesterday.

Pimentel has taken the position that it would take a vote of two-thirds of the 23 remaining members of the Senate to convict Sereno at her impeachment trial.

The count of Pimentel excludes Alan Peter Cayetano who resigned after accepting his appointment as foreign affairs secretary, but includes De Lima who is detained at Camp Crame.

Pimentel said that De Lima may secure permission from the courts to attend the impeachment trial and if she is prepared and well versed with the issues involved, she can cast her vote at the trial’s conclusion.

“Senator De Lima is still a member of the Senate. Who knows (she may be allowed to go out of detention). So you do not disqualify her just because she is detained. Who knows when we reach halfway or at the end (of the trial) she might be there,” Pimentel said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon previously stated his belief that all 24 members of the Senate should be used as the basis for the two-thirds count of the votes during the impeachment trial.

Pimentel said that whether it is 23 or 24, the required vote is practically the same.

“With 24 it’s 16. Here (at 23) it’s 15.33 and there’s no such thing as one-third of a person,” he said.

Pimentel admitted that the decision of the senators would not be based purely on the evidence presented, but also the pulse of the people, although he vowed to give Sereno a fair trial.

With preparations for the trial underway, Pimentel urged his colleagues to study the rules of the trial where they will sit as judges.

Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, meanwhile, said that he is not excited at all about the impeachment trial.

“Not excited on the impeachment because I am worried that vital legislation in the final process of passage might be affected. On the committees I handle, bills on universal healthcare and the creation of department of housing might be stalled,” Ejercito said.