The House of Representatives recognizes the Senate bloc led by Senate President Pro Tempore and Acting Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian as the group with the authority and numbers to convene both the Senate plenary and the impeachment court, according to House prosecutor and Bicol Saro Party-list Rep. Terry Ridon.
Ridon made the statement amid the continuing Senate leadership dispute, which has raised questions on which group can validly open proceedings and preside over the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte.
“Ang pagtingin naman po natin sa bahagi ng House of Representatives, meron na pong pag-recognize doon po kay Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian,” Ridon said.
He said fears of rival impeachment proceedings are unfounded because only one bloc currently has the numbers needed to convene the Senate and the impeachment court.
“Sa tingin naman po natin, hindi mangyayari na magkakaroon po ng magkahiwalay na trials, sapagkat iisa lang naman po ‘yung grupo na meron pong kapasidad na makapag-convene, una ng plenaryo, pangalawa ng Senate impeachment court,” Ridon said.
“Wala pong iba kundi sa pangunguna po ni Senate President Pro Tempore Sherwin Gatchalian,” he added.
The leadership row began after 11 senators moved to oust Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano, while 11 others stayed aligned with him.
The impasse was later broken when Sen. Francis Escudero joined the anti-Cayetano bloc, giving the Gatchalian-led group a 12-member majority.
The dispute was further complicated by the absence of Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, who remains in hiding following the issuance of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court, and Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, who is under detention over plunder and other cases.
The Gatchalian bloc has argued that 12 senators are enough to constitute a quorum because only 22 senators are currently available to participate in Senate proceedings.
For Ridon, the issue is ultimately a question of numbers and capacity to validly convene.
“So I think that point needs to be made. Kasi nga, siya lang ho ‘yung pwede, ‘yung grupo lang ho niya ‘yung pwedeng magbukas dahil siya po yung merong bilang para makapag-convene ang Senate impeachment court,” he said, referring to Gatchalian.
The House prosecution panel is preparing for Duterte’s impeachment trial, with pre-trial proceedings expected in mid-June and the formal trial scheduled to begin on July 6.
Ridon said that despite the Senate leadership dispute, the prosecution remains focused on presenting its case before the impeachment court.