The Senate impeachment court intends to preserve the constitutional balance of power between co-equal branches of government should the Supreme Court issue a ruling on the ongoing trial, according to spokesperson Atty. Reginald Tongol.
His remarks come on the heels of Vice President Sara Duterte’s July 7 petition urging the high court to halt the proceedings.
Filed alongside her legal team, including Atty. Israelito Torreon, the urgent motion specifically challenges the legal authority of Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero to head the impeachment court.
Addressing concerns over a potential stand-off, Tongol expressed confidence that the Senate will sidestep a constitutional crisis, noting that all three branches of government historically respect each other’s distinct jurisdictions.
”However, as we have seen before, the Senate always respects the balance of power,” Tongol stated. “So kung yun po yung guidance natin, makikita po natin na susundin nila yung co-equal branch of government nila so long as it does not prevent them from exercising their own powers under the Constitution.”
When asked if the current proceedings might mirror the high-stakes friction of the 2012 impeachment of the late Chief Justice Renato Corona, Tongol noted it is premature to draw parallels since every case presents unique dynamics.
”So ayoko pong pangunahan kung ano po yung magiging aksyon ng ating mga senator judges at ng impeachment court. But I think we have to just wait for it when the time comes. We will cross the bridge when we get there,” he said.
During the 2012 Corona trial, the Senate navigated a similar boundary when the Supreme Court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) shielding the Chief Justice’s foreign currency bank accounts from disclosure.
In that instance, the Senate voted 13-10 to respect the high court’s order while pushing forward with the rest of the trial.