New Senate ‘bloc’ vows to ensure strict adherence to Charter
A group of veteran senators is presenting themselves as a new bloc that will ensure Senate rules and procedures are “strictly followed in line with the Constitution”—now a hot-button issue due to the early contentions stalling the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
The faction, composed of former Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri and Sen. Loren Legarda, has called themselves the “conscience bloc.”
In a text message to reporters, Sotto said it was Lacson who coined the term “conscience bloc” but did not elaborate on how the latter came up with the name.
“We can also make sure that fiscal policy passing through the Senate will be clean and transparent for the benefit of the country and our people,” said Sotto, who has earlier expressed his interest in the Senate presidency.
Open race
The race for the Senate presidency has become uncharacteristically open, with at least two senators publicly declaring their intention to contest the plum position currently occupied by Sen. Francis Escudero on a holdover capacity.
Aside from Sotto, presidential sister Sen. Imee Marcos has earlier said some of her colleagues have approached her “with the proposal to be their candidate for Senate President.”
Sen. Ronald dela Rosa and Sen. Bong Go from the Duterte bloc earlier confirmed that Escudero and Sotto have reached out to them for support.
Sotto, however, previously said that he would be willing to take the minority leader post should he fail to win the Senate presidency.
While Escudero has the support of at least 13 senators, as earlier confirmed by Sen. Joel Villanueva and Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, Sotto insisted that this could not be the case all throughout the year.
“The leadership only serves at the pleasure of the senators. It could change anytime,” he said.
Not the court’s voice
Also on Friday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Sotto cautioned Escudero and lawyer Reginald Tongol against making unilateral decisions and speaking on behalf of the impeachment court trying the case of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Escudero serves as presiding officer of the impeachment court while he named Tongol as its spokesperson.
Hontiveros said Tongol is only entitled to speak in his own capacity. “But, with all due respect, he does not reflect the voice of the Senate,” she said in a statement.
“As a deliberative body, the strength of the Senate is in its collective judgment. Based on his statements at a recent press conference, he represents only the position of the presiding officer. But he does not represent mine, as one of the senator-judges,” Hontiveros added.
She also called out the court for already making its own rules when it earlier stated that it could not convene or act until the 20th Congress starts.
“They are not consistent with what they have long been saying that the impeachment court cannot convene or act until the 20th Congress starts. On the other hand, they are already unilaterally deciding on the rules of the impeachment court,” Hontiveros said.
“Out of respect for the institution, I hope we can be more mindful of [the] process and allow us senator-judges to decide only when we are properly convened,” she added.
House compliance
Sotto agreed with Hontiveros who called her statement “spot-on.”
“Even the statements of the [Senate President] does not reflect the entire Senate unless they emanate from a caucus of the members. Otherwise, it is merely his statements,” Sotto said in a Viber message when asked to comment on Hontiveros’ statement.
Inquirer.net has reached out to Escudero and Tongol for comment but has yet to get a reply as of publication.
Tongol, in a press briefing on Wednesday, said the reconvening of the Senate impeachment court will depend on the compliance of the House of Representatives prosecutors with the court’s requirements.
In returning the Articles of Impeachment to the House last June 30, the court also directed the prosecution team to issue a certification that the case against Duterte did not violate the one-year ban on filing impeachment complaints.
It also asked the current House membership to express its willingness to pursue the case against Duterte.
So far, the House of the 19th Congress has complied with the first requirement of the court.
In the same briefing, Tongol said the swearing-in of new senator-judges may have to wait as the Senate has yet to decide on its leader.
“The presiding officer does not want any questions to arise regarding that step in the oath-taking process, as it could be challenged and lead to legal impediments once the proceedings move forward,” he explained.
“So, as a matter of prudence and diligence, the presiding officer prefers that the oath-taking be done only after a Senate president—who will serve as the presiding officer of the impeachment court of the 20th Congress—has been elected,” he added.
