Welcome para sa ilang House leaders and hakbang ni Senate Minority Leader Koko Pimentel na umapela ksa liderato ng Senado para sa isang caucus upang pag-usapan kung maaaring masimulan na ang impeachment trial sa Marso.
Ayon kay Assistant Majority Leader Jude Acidre, kung masimulan ng mas maaga ang trial proper ay mas maigi.
“If they can start on March the better especially, we know naman when we go to the trial proper, a certain number of preliminaries and formalities has to be undertaken. So the sooner really we can start with all this, the Senate acquiring jurisdiction over the impeachment complaint, the better it would be for the country.” Ani ACidre.
Giit naman ni Assistant Majority Leader Jil Bongalon, na kung mas maaga masimulan ang paglilitis ay mas may panahong masuri kung mayroon nga ba talagang pananagutan ng bise presidente.
“of course you know, para matapos na ito once and for all. We can really determine the culpability of the (inaudible), who is the vice president of the Republic of the Philippines, we are of the conclusion that the earlier that the Senate would start the impeachment trial would be better.” dagdag ni Bongalon.
Sabi pa niya na kung pagkatapos pa ng SONA ng pangulo gagawin ang paglilitis, maaaring mahati ang atensyon ng Kongreso sa legislative priorities na babanggitin ng Pangulo sa kaniyang darating na SONA.
“kasi kung papatagalin pa natin, we will start the trial after the SONA of our President. Parang mawawala sa focus yung ating legislative priorities kasi yung Senado, they will convene as an impeachment trial court. And of course, the members of the Congress, especially the panel of prosecutors will be very busy in prosecuting this case.” ani Bongalon. | ulat ni Kathleen Forbes
