The Senate must act with impartiality in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial and hear the case free of bias and regardless of political leanings, Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima said on Tuesday.
In a media briefing, de Lima said that the Senate’s impeachment guidelines outline that senator-judges should be politically neutral while the upper chamber is sitting as an impeachment court.
“They are actually expected to exhibit political neutrality,” she said. “They have to fulfill their duty without unfair discrimination and without regard to political color or affiliation.”
On Monday, the Senate convened as an impeachment court for the trial of Duterte, who was impeached by the House last May 11. A total of 257 lawmakers voted in favor of adopting House Resolution No. 989 which contains the articles of impeachment against Duterte.
Duterte’s impeachment was hinged on accusations of unexplained wealth, bribery, misuse of confidential funds, and threats to have President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and his relatives killed in the case she herself was assasinated.