Dismissing Sara Duterte’s impeachment case in plain view was just like re-electing Chiz Escudero. The alignment was the same. The numbers and faces who rejected the motion to keep the impeachment process alive in the Senate are the same mix of people representing political dynasties. Their votes, therefore, have nothing to do with the “rule of law” nor the representation of their “independence” as co-equal.
Yesterday, the Senate majority just did what Escudero wanted
them to do since the 19th Congress – kill the impeachment. Yet, it is harder to think that it was Sara
Duterte who’s managing Chiz or she’s in virtual control of the Senate. That’s
surely beyond her power and competence.
So why did the Senate majority unanimously reject a very
simple “PAKIUSAP” by the minority to wait for the final decision of the Supreme
Court on the motion for reconsideration? They could have simply suspended
deliberations rather than put into the archive an impeachment complaint, which
they also believed was non-existent.
There can only be one explanation for this, which we believe
was driving the new Senate under Escudero. This was brilliantly explained by
Cayetano’s “talunin nyo na lang si Sara sa 2028” remark, coupled with other
innuendos about the possibility of endless impeachment complaints flooding the
Senate in the future because of corruption. That sharp presentation in support
of making the impeachment process more difficult has truly assumed consensus
among dynasties in the Senate. Dynasties have their own political plans beyond
the Senate, and impeachment is the least political process that they will
support.
Clearly, the Senate they are shaping today is
anti-impeachment. In other words, their votes yesterday were not just for Sara
but also for themselves. Their defense of Sara is their flood control to
prevent the arm of justice and accountability reaching their own dynasty walls.