Conviction in impeachment court not easy - analyst

Metro Manila, Philippines – Getting a conviction in the impeachment court may not be as easy as mustering enough votes in the House of Representatives to initiate charges of misconduct against Vice President Sara Duterte, a political analyst said.

In an interview with NewsWatch Plus, Jean Franco, University of the Philippines political science professor, said a number of senators tend to be “softer” with the vice president compared to the House, which launched a series of investigations on her fund use.

Under the Constitution, the Senate will serve as the “trial” court that will pass judgment on an impeached official

Franco noted that the upcoming elections may be a factor in case Duterte is impeached and the trial proceeds at the Senate.

“Paano kapag nagbotohan na? [What if voting happens?] It has to be black and white…. For some of them [that] might spell their victory or their loss (in the elections),” she said.

She said another factor is the president’s pronouncements against going through the process.

Batangas 2nd District Rep. Jinky Luistro, justice committee vice chairperson, told NewsWatch Plus while the numbers initially show some preferences, it’s early to say something at this point.

“The perfect time for us to pronounce whether we will be approving or not, at least from my end as one of the members of the justice committee… is once we are deliberating already and conducting the hearing already in the committee on justice,” she said.

Impeachment and elections

With elections just around the corner, Franco said “momentum” may be the key for whoever wants the vice president out of office.

“Kung hindi siya i-impeach ngayon, it might die down, the fervor, the views of some people,” Franco said.

[Translation: If she is not impeached now, the fervor and the views of some people might die down.]

The House has roughly two months before it adjourns in February to give way for the campaign period for the midterm polls.

But for Luistro, the committee has time to tackle and decide on the complaints.

“Sixty days will be more than the reasonable period para matapos ng justice committee. Ang alam kong matagal talaga is an impeachment trial and that belongs to the Senate which will be sitting as the impeachment court,” she said.

[Translation: Sixty days might be more than a reasonable period for the justice committee to finish. What would take time is the impeachment trial, and that belongs to the Senate, which will be sitting as the impeachment court]

Duterte has yet to address the two complaints.