Impeachment trials trigger inflection points: Flashback and prognosis

An inflection point represents a crucial moment of change, a turning point where a significant shift in direction or trajectory occurs. It's a time when something suddenly, or in a meaningful way, alters course, marking a departure from the previous trend or state.

- SONNY COLOMA

On Monday, June 9 — in response to public clamor — the Senate voted unanimously to commence the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, ending widespread speculation that it would sidestep its constitutional duty. Senate President Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero took his oath as presiding officer of the impeachment court.

On Tuesday, June 10, the 23 senators of the outgoing 19th Congress took their oath as judges of the impeachment court. After passing the rules that will govern the trial, it was reported that “the Senate Impeachment Court has decided to return the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte to the House of Representatives but “without dismissing or terminating the case.” The vote was 18 to five, with no abstentions. The dissenting votes were cast by Senators Binay, Gatchalian, Hontiveros, Pimentel, and Poe.

According to the Bulletin’s Senate reporters: “(Senator Koko) Pimentel lamented the decision...noting that the motion clearly contains dangerous language susceptible to a lot of interpretations. He also mentioned that the motion communicates with a body which is not yet in existence, pertaining to the 20th Congress. (Senator Risa) Hontiveros agreed to this and said that the wording of the approved motion introduces unnecessary ambiguity to the already politically-charged proceedings.”

After these developments, another inflection point may have been reached.

Recall two previous inflection points in recent history: First, the impeachment trial of then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada; and second, the impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona.

These inflection points reflect the volatility of Philippine politics since the imposition of martial law more than 50 years ago.

President Estrada was replaced by his erstwhile Vice President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo after a dramatic turn of events in early 2001. Here’s the report filed by Rajiv Chandrasekaran of the Washington Post: