‘Senators may vote on motion to dismiss VP’s case’

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian maintained that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte must proceed, even as he expects that the Senate impeachment court will vote on a motion to dismiss from the defense.

He was reacting to a possible move by the defense camp to seek to dismiss the Articles of Impeachment without going through trial and the presentation of evidence as mandated by the 1987 Constitution.

“I am very sure the defense lawyers will invoke the constitutionality of the Articles of Impeachment, and it is possible there will be a vote among us senator-judges,” Gatchalian said yesterday.

The senator said he expects the defense camp to bring up the alleged violation of the one-year ban rule on initiating impeachments under the Constitution.

“In my opinion, the trial needs to begin, so that the arguments from both parties will be heard by and presented to the public, so there is transparency,” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian is among the five senators who voted against the majority move to return the impeachment case to the House of Representatives during the previous June 10 impeachment court session.