Sen. Risa Hontiveros. File 

MANILA, Philippines – Senate Deputy Minority Leader Risa Hontiveros agrees with Minority Leader Koko Pimentel that the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte should start immediately. 

“Sumang-ayon ako, at sumasang-ayon ako hanggang ngayon sa pananaw ni Senate Minority Leader Senator Koko Pimentel na ang linaw ng utos ng Konstitusyon sa amin,” she said in the regular Kapihan sa Senado forum. 

Hontiveros pointed out the Constitutional provision that says once verified complaints reach the Senate, which will act as an impeachment court,  trial shall proceed, “forthwith.” 

“Forthwith at mas klaro pa nga sa Pilipino, agad,” she said. 

However she also acknowledges the view of Senate President Chiz Escudero that trial will not begin while Congress is in recess. 

With the contentions for and against the constitution of the impeachment trial, Hontiveros said she is looking forward to Escudero’s call for an all-members caucus so that the senators could hear out Pimentel as to why trial needs to proceed even before the 20th Congress enters into function. 

“Kung tama yung pagintindi ko kay Senator Koko hindi lang pwede, kung hindi, dapat at sinasabi din po ‘yan sa rules noh, sa rules ng senado specifically ‘yung Senate rules of procedure on impeachment trials,” Hontiveros said. 

“Walang pumipigil sa amin na i-tackle ‘yung articles of impeachment at mag constitute bilang impeachment court,” she said. 

On being a “sure convict” vote

Even before the articles of impeachment were formally endorsed to the Senate, Hontiveros and Duterte have had heated exchanges in past congressional hearings. 

The two engaged in a word war when the finance committee grilled Duterte over the proposed 2025 budget of the Office of the Vice President last year. 

Because of this, critics said Hontiveros would be a “sure convict” vote as a senator judge come the commencement of the trial. 

This however was debunked by Hontiveros who said as to the question if the Vice President can expect impartiality from her, she answered, “of course.” 

“As they can have [expect impartiality] and they could have sa mga previous processes na magkasama kami o nag harapan kami. And I expect no less from her,” Hontiveros said. 

As a senator judge, Hontiveros said that even though the gravity of their encounters are hard to forget especially when receipts are all over online, she will set aside their differences and approach the case with a “new mind” and “new ears” as how a “responsible legislator” should be. 

“Titimbangin ko rin in comparison with previous evidence I have studied,” she said.

“I have always tried to be fair, I have always tried to be objective and I have always tried to be respectful sa mga witnesses kahit sila pa ung pinatutungkulan ng imbestigasyon and the same will be true if and when the impeachment trial gets underway,” she said.

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