Defense of ‘nefarious political idols’ makes Constitution useless – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — What renders the 1987 Constitution futile is when Filipinos begin defending acts of corruptions by “nefarious political idols” and normalizing unlawful execution of innocent people, the Palace said Saturday.

READ: Lawyers, deans back impeach court ruling on ‘2/3’ threshold

Palace press officer Claire Castro made the pronouncement amid criticisms against the Senate impeachment court’s recent ruling modifying the two-thirds conviction threshold on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial.

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“The Senate has its own mandate, and conducting an impeachment trial falls squarely within its jurisdiction,” Castro said.

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“This will be the real scenario… our Constitution will be rendered futile if the Filipino people begin to defend acts of corruption of their nefarious political idols, or if they normalize the unlawful execution of innocent people under the guise of dispensing justice,” she warned.

The Senate impeachment court last Wednesday voted to revise the 16-vote threshold needed to convict Duterte in her impeachment trial.

Under the newly-adopted rules, the constitutionally required two-thirds vote for conviction will be based only on senators who remain legally and factually capable of participating in the impeachment proceedings at the time of voting.

The computation will exclude senators who are detained, suspended or otherwise legally restrained from performing their functions.

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It also bars persons who are sought by authorities whose whereabouts are unknown and those suffering from a physical or medical incapacity.

It also prohibits those who are beyond the coercive processes of the Senate; and others similarly situated.

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The decision garnered criticisms, particularly from Duterte’s supporters and political allies. /apl