AMID swirling political currents, National Security Adviser Eduardo Año addressed concerns regarding the potential impact of the impeachment proceedings against Vice President Sara Duterte.
In an exclusive interview on Feb. 26 at the NSC office in Quezon City, Año offered his perspective on the issue, emphasizing the importance of allowing the constitutional process to unfold.
When questioned about whether the impeachment case could destabilize the government, Año expressed his belief that it would not.
“Sa tingin’ ko hindi kasi it’s a political process outside naman kasi yung ginagawa ng Senate at Congress sa executive(I think not because it’s a political process outside because what the Senate and Congress are doing is outside the executive branch),” Año stated, highlighting the separation of powers inherent in the Philippine government.
He further elaborated on the nature of the impeachment process, saying, “So, yan talaga it’s an act of Congress and, of course, impeachment is already there in the Senate, the Senate has to do its job,” he said. “The sooner it is concluded the better.”
Año also doesn’t foresee the impeachment causing any turmoil to the general public. “Let us let the process run its course, at least this will also give the vice president an opportunity to defend herself against the charges,” he added.
Año’s statement underscored his confidence in the nation’s institutions to handle the situation.
He relayed that the civilian sector is ready to prevent any violence that may occur.
However, when pressed for his personal opinion on the merits of the impeachment case itself, Año declined to comment.
“Hindi ako pwedeng magbigay, I’m not in the position to give a comment,” he said.
Recently, Senate President Francis Escudero emphasized that the impeachment trial should be done according to procedures to avoid “more delays” in the future.
Escudero made the remark as he responded to Senator Risa Hontiveros who said that 19th Congress senators would renege on their responsibilities if they let the 20th Congress hear the impeachment case against Duterte.
In a letter to his colleagues dated Feb. 24, Escudero provided a lengthy explanation by citing several jurisprudence and precedents on his interpretation of the word “forthwith” in tackling impeachment cases under the 1987 Constitution and why he is firm that the impeachment trial should start while Congress is in session, not in a special session.
“As the head of this institution, I am most cognizant of the Constitutional mandate that vests in the Senate the sole power to try and decide all cases of impeachment. This is an extraordinary duty that should be approached with all due caution and prudence, not to mention adequate preparation,” Escudero’s letter read.
The Senate president cited the position of the late former Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago during the endorsement of the impeachment of then President Joseph Ejecito Estrada, who argued that “while the Senate must proceed ‘forthwith’, it must do so with circumspection.”
Escudero also mentioned Santiago’s assertion that the constitutional provision requiring the Senate to “proceed forthwith” was taken out of context and should instead be read in conjunction with Article XI, Section 3(8) of the Constitution which states that “the Congress shall promulgate its rules on impeachment to effectively carry out the purpose of this Section.”
He noted that the Senate back then took Santiago’s position and only issued the summons after the resolution on the Rules of Procedure on Impeachment Trials was adopted.
The House impeached Duterte on Feb. 5, with over 200 lawmakers endorsing the complaint. The Articles of Impeachment were transmitted to the Senate the same day, but the upper chamber adjourned without addressing the case.
