Senator Bam Aquino insisted that the Senate should move forward with the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
In a statement, Aquino said that as a co-equal branch of government, the Supreme Court should respect the Senate’s constitutional mandate to conduct such a trial. “
Bilang co-equal branch, malinaw ang mandato ng konstitusyon at kapangyarihan ng Senado, kaya nararapat na irespesto ang proseso ng impeachment,” Aquino said,
“Nananawagan ako sa mga kapwa Senador na agad magsagawa ng caucus para talakayin ang desisyong binabalewala ang aming tungkulin sa Saligang Batas,” he added.
Earlier, Aquino expressed his readiness to fulfill his role as a senator-judge. “Sa prosesong ito, titiyakin nating mananaig ang ating mga batas at kapakanan ng ating mamamayan,” he added. In a separate post, Aquino said he has already consulted with lawyers and experts as part of his preparation for the upcoming trial. “Sumangguni sa ilang kaibigang abogado at eksperto upang kumonsulta at paghandaan ang nalalapit na impeachment trial at ang responsibilidad bilang senator-judge,” the Senator said.
“Bubusisiing mabuti ang mga ebidensyang ipepresenta, magiging mapanuri, at bukas ang mata at isip sa proseso,” he added.