VP impeachment: Palace hopes Senate will listen to business groups

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate should pay attention to the sentiments of business groups with regard to the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte as they know “what will be better for the economy,” Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro made the observation when asked to comment on the appeal of business groups to proceed with the impeachment trial of Duterte.

“Let me say this again, the President will not interfere in the Senate process regarding the impeachment trial. But if that is what our business people, our investors in the Philippines, see, they are experts in these things, what will be better for the economy,” Castro said at a press briefing.

“Let’s keep in mind, the President simply said follow the Constitution and the rule of law. So, if speeding up the impeachment trial is what the business sector sees as necessary, the Senate should also pay attention to it,” she added.

In a recent statement, the Makati Business Club said the Senate should “fulfill its constitutional duty to convene the impeachment court.”

“We view this issue as a governance issue and a test of public accountability and the rule of law,” the MBC said.

“If we do not follow the rule of law, how can we expect to attract foreign and even local investors to bring in long-term investments, which would lead to the creation of jobs?” it said.

The Management Association of the Philippines earlier expressed deep concern over the Senate’s decision to return the Articles of Impeachment against the Vice President to the House of Representatives.

According to MAP, the Senate has a constitutional duty to conduct Duterte’s impeachment trial without delay.

“We believe that this matter goes beyond politics – it is fundamentally about good governance and the rule of law,” it said.

Motion to dismiss

The Senate impeachment court is anticipating Duterte’s legal team to file a motion to dismiss as a response to the Senate’s writ of summons for her impeachment trial, spokesman Reginald Tongol said yesterday.

Tongol stressed that Duterte’s legal team appears to have reserved acknowledgement of the Senate’s jurisdiction over the case, therefore a motion to dismiss can be expected when the latter answers the summons on or before June 23, the deadline to respond to the writ.

“That’s the action we expect from the defense when they filed an ad cautelam appearance, that they will either file an answer with affirmative defense questioning the jurisdiction or a motion to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction,” Tongol said.