Senators Liable for Delay, Dismissal of Impeachment Without Trial

Senators can be held criminally liable for delaying or dismissing without trial the impeachment complaint of Vice President Sara Duterte, Sen. Vicente Sotto III yesterday warned his colleagues.

- — With Bella Cariaso, Jose Rodel Clapano

On his Viber with reporters, Sotto shared the July 16 Philippine STAR column of Jarius Bondoc, titled, "You can criminally charge senators who delay, dismiss impeachment."

"Senators can be held liable under three laws for delaying or dismissing impeachment trial," Sotto said, with a link to the column.

Sotto said when the Senate impeachment court reconvenes either on July 29 or after, he would rather that the senator judges debate on the floor instead of meet in a caucus or behind closed doors, so that the public would know the senators' positions.

"Maybe it's better if senators don't share their thoughts privately. Better in public so the agendas of each other will be out in the open," Sotto said.

In the column, Bondoc claimed that "Any citizen can indict senators for delaying VP Sara Duterte's impeachment trial. More so, if they dismiss the seven Articles of Impeachment without hearing evidence."

Bondoc cited the following laws as possible violations: