Mangle her trial if you want, but hear the evidence first

Caught reading the Bible, irreligious comic W.C. Fields alibied, "Just looking for loopholes." Senator Bato Dela Rosa is searching for loopholes in the Constitution to exempt VP Sara Duterte from impeachment trial.

- JARIUS BONDOC

Too bad for him, there's none.

Bato circulated among senators Monday a four-page resolution to dismiss outright the seven charges against Sara. It consists of 14 "where-asses."

The first four retraces the House of Reps' investigation, endorsement, and transmittal of the raps up to the Senate's inaction for more than a hundred days. The next nine cites Constitutional provisions and Supreme Court rulings. The last states:

"Whereas, the Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Duterte must be deemed de facto dismissed, by virtue of the inability of the Senate to properly consider the same because of the timing of the transmittal by the House of Representatives."

Bato blames the House for elevating the case on Feb. 5th, 2025, just before Congress recessed for the May 12th election campaign. Only the previous day did 215 of 316 congressmen finish signing. Bato glosses over the Senate's sitting on the matter till today—a Constitutional breach.

Queried by reporters Tuesday morning, Bato feigned ignorance of the resolution. "Patay malisya" radio-TV news chorused. Fellow pro-Sara senators Jinggoy Estrada and Imee Marcos confirmed its existence. By afternoon, Bato admitted it came from him.

Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, a bar exam topnotch, scoffed at the wording: "It's obviously not written by a lawyer or Senate staffer. Imagine, it misquotes the Constitution. Very sloppy."

The provision in question is straightforward. Article XI, Accountability of Public Officers, Section 3(4), mandates: