Nanindigan ang House Prosecution panel na legally sound ang hakbang nila para atasan si Vice President Sara Duterte na tumugon sa Articles of Impeachment.
Ayon kay 1-Rider Representative Rodge Gutierrez, miyembro ng prosekusyon, nagkakaisa silang mga prosecutor na batay sa konstitusyon at sa sariling rules of procedure ng Senado tungkol sa impeachment ay ligal ang kanilang hinihiling sa Senado na magpalabas ng Writ of Summons.
“The prosecution has collectively taken the stand that given the Constitution says that the trial under the Senate will proceed immediately forthwith, we are of the opinion that legally sound naman ang aming motion,” ani Gutierrez.
Gayunman, igagalang pa rin nila ang hakbang ng Senado, batay na rin sa pahayag ni Senate President Chiz Escudero na ikokonsulta pa nila sa kanilang legal department ang inihain ng House Prosecution Panel.
“However, we do understand that the good Senate president might have a differing opinion and thus we would understand the reason for them to refer it to their legal team. But we remain confident that our submission is in line with our legal theory,” saad niya.
Sinabi pa ni Gutierrez na sakaling matuloy ang pagpapadala ng summons sa Pangalawang Pangulo, kahit nasa The Netherlands pa ito ay maaari siya magsumite ng tugon sa pamamagitan ng ating konsulado o embahada.
Pero para kay Gutierrez at House Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan na siyang lead prosecutor, mas mainam pa rin kung babalik siya sa Pilipinas at dito ihahain ang tugon.
“The Vice President if she would still be abroad can still file her answer and just approach the nearest consulate to have it apostilled…Although the ideal would still be personally, she would return to the Philippines to file her answer for the court,” sabi pa ng mambabatas.
“Malaking bagay na nandito siya para masagot niya po nang isa-isa ang paratang sa 7 Articles of Impeachment, yung 7 charges na nasa Articles of Impeachment,” ani Libanan. | ulat ni Kathleen Jean Forbes
