A senior lawmaker said he would oppose any attempt to stop or delay the Senate from convening as an impeachment court should the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte reach the chamber.
He stressed that convening as an impeachment court is a constitutional duty of the Senate and should not be blocked by procedural maneuvers or political considerations.
Senate President Pro Tempore and Blue Ribbon Chairperson Panfilo Lacson clarified, however, that supporting the convening of the impeachment court does not mean he has already decided whether to convict or acquit the Vice President.
According to him, any decision on the case would still depend solely on the evidence presented during the proceedings.
Lacson also noted that if efforts to halt the impeachment process arise, the issue could eventually be elevated to the Supreme Court to compel the Senate to carry out its constitutional mandate.
“The Senate is a collegial and deliberative body that is ruled by majority vote,” he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
He added that senators who may seek to stop the convening of the impeachment court would have to justify their position before both their colleagues and the public.
The senator earlier raised the possibility that motions to delay or block the impeachment process could emerge once the matter reaches the Senate, emphasizing the need for lawmakers to be prepared for potential constitutional questions surrounding the proceedings
The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the articles of impeachment against Duterte before transmitting the case to the Senate for trial.