Senator Nancy Binay heaved a sigh of relief on Thursday knowing that the color of robes that the senator-judges would wear in the impending trial of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has been changed from maroon to black.
“Sobrang ok sa akin yung kulay… (The color is very much ok with me),” Binay said during the Kapihan sa Senado when asked about their preparations, including the design and color of their robes.
“Kasi kung yung dating kulay baka may pumunas sa akin (Because if it’s the same color [maroon], someone may wipe [their towels] on me),” she said, followed by a hearty laugh as she referred to the Black Nazarene tradition.
Binay also had another reason to thank for— that the impeachment complaint against Sereno had been delayed in the House of Representatives and did not reach the Senate for trial in time for the annual Traslacion of the Black Nazarene in January.
“Buti nga na nausog kasi di ba originally akala namin January e di ba sabay na sabay sa (Black Nazarene),” she said.
(I was glad it was moved further because originally we thought it would fall on January in simultaneous with the Black Nazarene.)
Turning serious, the senator expressed hopes the impeachment complaint against Sereno would no longer be transmitted to the Senate as it would only delay the passage of important legislations in the chamber.
Binay nevertheless expressed readiness to sit as a senator-judge when the Senate convenes into an impeachment court to tackle the complaint.
She said her lawyer-father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, who has returned to law practice, could help her with the impeachment process.
It might be good also if all senators would take a few days of refresher course concerning the rules of court and decorum when conducting an impeachment trial. /jpv
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