ENJOYING a slim edge insofar as headcount is concerned, the new Senate majority made sure that Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano won’t be able to preside over the impeachment trial following an amendment to the Senate rules.
In a paid advertisement published in newspapers of general circulation, the Senate is likely to elect a new presiding officer for the impeachment trial scheduled next month.
Under the amended rules, automatic assumption of the Senate President as impeachment trial presiding senator-judge no longer exists. It also allowed the chamber to install somebody deemed as ‘more fit’ as presiding officer through a simple floor vote via Senate Resolution No. 48.
“The president of the Senate shall preside in all other cases of impeachment unless the Senate, by a majority vote of the members present, elects another senator as the presiding officer,” the amended rule states.
However, the majority bloc may only be able to officially elect Gatchalian trial as presiding officer 15 days after the publication.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the chief justice is constitutionally mandated to preside when the president of the Philippines is on trial. Interestingly, previous impeachment cases were presided over by the Senate, acting as impeachment court.
The resolution further directs that the chosen presiding officer “shall, for that purpose, be placed under the prescribed oath or affirmation by any person authorized by law to administer an oath.”