Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel (left) and Sen. Antonio Trillanes INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
“Trillanes does not know what he is talking about.”
This was how Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III brushed off on Tuesday Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV’s criticisms against President Rodrigo Duterte’s meddling in the impeachment case of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.
In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Pimentel said: “People of the Philippines, forgive him for he does not know what he is talking about.”
Pimentel said even a president could move for someone’s impeachment.
“This has happened in the USA,” he said. “Eto ‘order’ sa House after an impeachment complaint has already been filed. Ni hindi si Pres ang nag-order sa impeachment complaint filing. This is why I said Senator Trillanes doesn’t know what he is talking about. Hence forgive him.”
In a press briefing also on Tuesday, Trillanes urged Congress to protest Duterte’s order to fast-track the impeachment case against Sereno.
“Kung ang perspective ang pinag-uusapan natin dun sa being part of the checks and balances system eh dapat magrereklamo ang legislature dito sa panghihimasok ni Duterte at pagbu-bully sa legislature,” the opposition senator said.
Pressed if he would expect the Senate to defy Duterte’s order, Trillanes said: “No. I am not expecting anything from Sen. Koko Pimentel dahil hindi ko alam kung alam niya yung trabaho niya eh bilang Senate President.”
READ: Trillanes to Congress: Protest Duterte’s meddling in Sereno case
During Monday’s press conference in Davao City, the President said he would ask Congress to fast-track the impeachment proceedings against Sereno.
“I’m putting you on notice that I’m your enemy and you have to be out of the Supreme Court,” he said of Sereno. “I will see to it and after that, I will request Congress go to the impeachment right away.”
READ: Duterte declares war vs Sereno
Moments after, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said he was bound to heed the President’s order saying: “It will be done once we resume sessions.”
The House leader also said they had a “very strong case to impeach her.”