Skip to main contentdfsdf

Home/ stevenwarran's Library/ Notes/ November 6, 2000, The Philippine Star, Senate to stop probe for impeach moves, by Perseus Echeminada,

November 6, 2000, The Philippine Star, Senate to stop probe for impeach moves, by Perseus Echeminada,

from web site

November 6, 2000, The Philippine Star, Senate to stop probe for impeach moves, by Perseus Echeminada, 

Once the articles of impeachment against President Estrada are filed in the Senate, the Blue Ribbon Committee will stop the jueteng hearings looking into the alleged involvement of the Chief Executive in illegal gambling. 
  
Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr., the committee's chairman, told The STAR yesterday the Senate is "duty bound" to discontinue the proceedings after the House of Representatives approves the articles of impeachment. "We have to respect the constitutional process," he said. 

Meanwhile, Sen. Gregorio Honasan warned that senators who took part in the jueteng hearings and in Saturday's rally at the EDSA Shrine may be disqualified as jurors if an impeachment trial is held at the Senate. Honasan said over radio yesterday Senate President Franklin Drilon, Senate Minority Leader Teofisto Guingona, and Sen. Raul Roco may have prejudged the case against Mr. Estrada when they called for his resignation during last Saturday's rally at the EDSA Shrine. 

"Even those who actively participated in the Senate jueteng probe may also be asked to inhibit themselves," he said. Honasan said he did not ask questions about the President's alleged involvement in jueteng when he twice took part in the Blue Ribbon Committee hearings because he wanted to keep his independence as a juror in any impeachment trial. 

Apart from Honasan, the other senators who did not directly or indirectly participate in the jueteng hearings are: Pimentel, Blas Ople, Vicente Sotto III, and Ramon Revilla. On the other hand, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile told The STAR yesterday the inhibition or disqualification of senators as jurors in any impeachment trial will be decided by the Senate as a body. 

However, Enrile said the Senate has yet to adopt and approve the rules on proceedings to be followed after the Senate convenes the impeachment trial of the President. Under the Constitution, any impeachment complaint against the President must be filed with the House of Representatives, which, acting as prosecutor, will deliberate whether the Chief Executive should be tried. However, the articles of impeachment can be sent to the Senate, which will serve as the trial court, without any deliberations if the complaint is signed by 73 members of the House of Representatives. 

When that happens, the Senate will assume jurisdiction over the impeachment case, with the senators acting as the jury, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as the presiding judge. Last Friday, Speaker Manuel  Villar Jr. and 45 other congressmen bolted the Lapian ng Masang Pilipino and signed the complaint, bolstering the number of legislators calling for President Estrada's impeachment.

Would you like to comment?

Join Diigo for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.

stevenwarran

Saved by stevenwarran

on Dec 21, 12