MANILA, Philippines – The impeachment case against Chief Justice Renato Corona was formally transmitted to the Senate on Tuesday.
Chief Justice Renato Corona. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The 57-page complaint was personally delivered by Iloilo Representative Niel Tupas and Oriental Mindoro Representative Rey Umali to the office of Senate Secretary Emma Reyes.
Reyes herself received the complaint at 10:00 a.m.
Reyes said they would draft a calendar for the day and recommend the referral of the complaint to the committee on rules being headed by Senate Majority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto III.
“It’s the committee on rules that decides as to the manner of transacting business to the Senate. So if the committee on rules headed by the Majority Leader decides, if he approves our calendar for for ordinary business, it will be referred to the committee on rules,” she told reporters.
“I’m sure the senators will discuss the matter as to the date and time of the constitution of the impeachment court,” she added.
Reyes said the Senate acting as an impeachment court would issue the summons to the person impeached.
“The person impeached will be given 10 days to answer, then the other party will be given 5 days days to reply under our rules of procedure,” said the Senate Secretary.
Reyes believed that the existing rules of procedure in impeachment were already sufficient but said it would still be up to the senators if they wouls want to amend the rules.
Originally posted at 10:21 am | Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2011