Senator tells SC not to impose will on Senate

MANILA, Philippines – A senator allied with the administration called on the Supreme Court on Wednesday not to impose its will on the Senate, sitting as an impeachment court of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

At the resumption of the trial in the Senate, Senator Teofisto Guingona III stood up to manifest his apprehension on the various petitions filed against the ongoing impeachment trial of Corona.

Guingona asserted the independence of the Senate and its sole power to try and decide on impeachment cases.

“The impeachment process is the people’s way of making public officials accountable. The people through the Constitution reposed this power to Congress. Therefore, the Senate, as an Impeachment Court, is independent,” he said.

“Since the impeachment Court is independent and a class of its own, the Supreme Court should not impose its will on this body,” said Guingona.

“Because at this point, we are not a co-equal branch of government. We are co-equal bodies if we are legislating. But at this point, we are not legislating. We are exercising a judicial function as an Impeachment Court. Sana po makita ng Korte Suprema ang puntong ito [We hope the Supreme Court can see this point],” he said.

Despite this, Guingona said he remained confident that the Supreme Court would know the right thing to do and would join efforts to search for truth.