Atty. Romy Macalintal, a legal expert, believes that the Senate, as the impeachment court in the case against Vice President Sara Duterte, has no power to decide whether to proceed with the trial or to return the Articles of Impeachment to lower chamber.
In an interview during Damdaming Bayan on Wednesday, Macalintal said this is the first time an impeachment case will be returned to the House of Representatives. This move, according to him, is an abandonment of the people seeking justice.
"Unpresidented 'yan e. Hindi pa talaga nangyari yung bagay na ganyan – ibinabalik ang nasabing impeachment case sa House of Representatives," he said.
"Para sa akin, yang ginawang 'yan ng majority ng mga Senador, ay pagpapakita nila na inabandona nila ang ating mga kababayan. That is abandonment of the Filipino people, na ang mga taong bayan naghihintay na gagampanan nila ang ating mga tungkulin," he added.
Macalintal stressed that remanding the impeachment case is not the responsibility of the impeachment court, and that senators are not legal counsels who should be defending the Vice President.
The legal expert said that the Senate should have allowed the trial to proceed and let the Vice President defend herself.
"Wala silang kapangyarihan na tanungin pa ang House of Representatives, kung itutuloy pa ba ang nasabing impeachment at walang violation ang Constitution. Kung 'yan ay gusto nilang malaman, hindi sila ang gagawa ng ganyang mga moves. Pabayaan nila si Vice President na sumagot."
"Pero hindi para sa mga Senador na parang sila ay nag-aabogado para kay Sara. Sila ay naroroon para maging Huwes. Saan ka nakakita ng isang Huwes na siya mismo ang magfa-file ng motion sa kaniyang sariling korte at siya mismo ang magdedecide ng kaniyang mosyon. Hindi ba't malaking kalokohan 'yan?"
It can be recalled that on Tuesday night, the majority of the Senate voted 18-5 to return the Articles of Impeachment which were originally transmitted by the House of Representatives in February.
According to Senator-judge Alan Peter Cayetano, this will remain "technically alive" and provide greater clarity for the next Congress, which begins its session soon.
Meanwhile, Macalintal pointed out that the Senate cannot proceed with the impeachment trial without a response from Vice President Duterte.
"Parang nalimutan nila na hindi pwedeng magsimula ang impeachment, ang trial na 'yan kung hindi pasasagutin si Sara. Kahit anong deliberasyon ang gawin ng nasabing impeachment court kung walang sagot si Sara, hindi po pwedeng ituloy 'yan," said Macalintal.
According to Macalintal, this move will only delay the impeachment case, especially since the 19th Congress will soon be adjourned.
