Pimentel assures Sereno of a fair impeachment trial

Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel has assured Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno of a fair trial should the impeachment complaint against her reaches the upper chamber.

“Basta ang attitude dapat ng mga senador, and I know ganito ang attitude nila, if there is no evidence, then acquit. But if there’s evidence then we also have to consider convicting, patas patas lang,” Pimentel told reporters, Wednesday.

“That’s why the burden is on the House because they should be prepared to prove their case, walang kaibi-kaibigan dun,” he added.

The Senate President also expressed confidence that the senators will shed their respective political colors once the Senate convene as an impeachment court, which according to Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto,  may happen in  the last week of July.

Pimentel, meanwhile, refused to comment on the alleged action of the Supreme Court en banc to force Sereno to go on an “indefinite leave.”

READ: SC en banc forced Sereno to go on leave – Umali

The Senate, he said, is on the process of finalizing its impeachment rules.

When it comes to voting, Pimentel said Sereno would only be impeached if 2/3 of the 23 senators, or 16 members, will vote to impeach her.

According to Pimentel, detained senator Leila De Lima is included in the 23 senators. Alan Cayetano, the 24th senator, was earlier appointed as the foreign affairs secretary, and is no longer considered a member of the Senate.

The House justice committee is set to vote on the case’ probable cause after it wrapped-up its hearings last Tuesday.

Earlier, Sereno’s camp repeatedly said they “look forward” to her “fair” impeachment trial at the Senate.

READ: Sereno goes on leave, gets ready for impeachment trial   /muf