Impeachment proceedings have become the center of the country’s attention in the past, the present case is not that different although this time, it is the second highest official in the country who will be on trial. The names of the members of the house of representatives who signed the impeachment complaint were published and the nation is again embroiled in hot debate on whether it is correct to impeach the vice president. There are also insinuations that those who signed the complaint were promised fundings or even money. This is going to be a telenovela that will dominate all forms of media. It will also be a huge factor in the upcoming campaign and elections. Of course, the VP was merely impeached by the lower house but has not been removed yet. After being impeached, the senate will convene as an impeachment court to hear the case and decide on whether the VP is guilty. If found guilty, she will be removed from office. As of the latest pronouncements of the senate, the trial might be held in June when the upper house re-convenes since they are already in recess.
Our Constitution says: “Section 2. The President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. All other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but not by impeachment.” The Constitution goes on to state the procedure to be followed in cases of impeachment and the decision all boils down to numbers. A two thirds vote of all the senator-judges may convict the accused which means if the latter has enough number of senators in his or her side, there may not be a conviction even if the evidence points to the culpability of the accused. Indeed, impeachment is a political process determined by alliances, log-rolling or quid pro quo deals, and public perception. The political career of the late former senator Aquino-Oreta ended with his “dancing” caught on camera after a motion to open the envelope was defeated during the impeachment trial of former president Estrada. She was dubbed “the dancing queen” and her political career never recovered.
The senate will convene as an impeachment court and will go through the motion of a trial but the outcome will be determined by the number of allies of the VP and her father, former president Duterte in that upper chamber. Analysts are saying that Sara has the number, as of now. But the result of the upcoming elections will really be the determining factor, if allies of the administration will dominate the upcoming congress, the VP’s fate is sealed. Of course, the allies of the VP and her father have branded those who voted for the impeachment as “idiots” and ill-motive but the impeachment is a process to determine the culpability of the official impeached so that she may be held accountable for the acts she committed against the country and its constitution if proven. That is the idea at least. But since impeachment is a political process, politics in its contorted form will be employed by both sides in order to prevail. So begins this top-rated drama for the entire country to watch and anticipate.
