SC May Tackle Petition on Sara Impeach Trial Today

The Supreme Court may take up today in full session a petition seeking to compel the Senate to start immediately the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

- 

"The case was raffled today and will possibly be included in tomorrow's agenda, along with other petitions," SC spokesperson Camille Sue Mae Ting said yesterday in a statement. Catalino Generillo Jr., a former Presidential Commission on Good Government special government counsel, filed the petition before the high court last Feb. 14.

In his 22-page petition for mandamus, Generillo said the Constitution does not permit the Senate to delay its duty during recess, adding that the chamber must promptly constitute itself as an impeachment court to try the Vice President.

Meanwhile, opposition coalition 1Sambayan has urged Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. to release the results of the military's investigation on the utilization of the confidential funds allocated to the office of Vice President Duterte.

Specifically, the group asked Teodoro to release information on the investigation on Duterte’s two military aides – Col. Raymund Dante Lachica and Col. Dennis Nolas – who were earlier reported to have handled the funds.

“This matter has raised significant public interest and as concerned citizens, we respectfully seek clarity regarding the details of the investigation and its findings," read iSambayan's letter, which was signed by its convenors retired Supreme Court senior associate justice Antonio Carpio and lawyer Howard Calleja.