Julia Christine Botin

Senators who prejudged VP Sara impeachment should recuse selves - Monsod

Article (news)

David Dizon

ABS-CBN News

Constitutionalist Christian Monsod questioned Thursday senators who have <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/4/tv-patrol-draft-resolutions-para-ibasura-ang-reklamong-impeachment-umiikot-sa-senado-2329">drafted resolutions</a> to junk the impeachment complaint vs Vice President Sara Duterte.“They cannot do that, wala ‘yun sa Constitution. Dapat magkaroon ng trial. It’s the duty of the Senate to conduct ‘yung trial. They cannot get out of that duty,” he said in a DZMM interview.Monsod said senators who are pushing to dismiss the complaint outright have already prejudged the case and should recuse themselves.“‘Yung judges, the source of their legitimacy is their independence and the Senate is now functioning as a judicial body. But if they have already prejudged the case, they should recuse themselves. Hindi na sila dapat sumali sa proceedings because they have prejudged it,” he said.“Where is their integrity? Kung ganun sila, wala na silang independence, they should not participate in the process.If the Senate decides to dismiss the impeachment complaint instead of going to trial, the House of Representatives can raise the issue before the Supreme Court “because by that time, it means that the Senate is violating the Constitution,” he saidMonsod said the Senate is a continuing body that can continue the impeachment process into the 20th Congress. “Yung outgoing senators they step down June 30. At the same time, the newly elected 12 assumed office. So, there is never a situation where there are only 12,” he said.

Constitutionalist Christian Monsod questioned Thursday senators who have <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/4/tv-patrol-draft-resolutions-para-ibasura-ang-reklamong-impeachment-umiikot-sa-senado-2329">drafted resolutions</a> to junk the impeachment complaint vs Vice President Sara Duterte.

Constitutionalist Christian Monsod questioned Thursday senators who have drafted resolutions to junk the impeachment complaint vs Vice President Sara Duterte.