Nilinaw ni House lead prosecutor at Batangas Rep. Gerville “Jinky Bitrics” Luistro na maaaring kailanganin lang ang special session kung dapat pang pumili ang Senado ng Clerk of Court o ibang presiding officer para sa impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte.
Pero kung maaaring gampanan ng Senate secretary general ang tungkulin ng Clerk of Court, sinabi ni Luistro na puwede pa ring umusad ang trial.
Sa isang press conference ngayong Lunes, June 8, nilinaw ni Luistro na ang nauna niyang pagbanggit sa special session ay hindi tungkol sa kung dapat bang matuloy ang impeachment trial. Kaugnay lamang aniya ito ng procedural questions sa Senate impeachment court.
“I remember in the past interviews, I made mention about calling a special session. This is with respect to the option of electing a presiding officer other than Acting SP Win Gatchalian,” ani Luistro.
Muli ring nagpahayag ng tiwala si Luistro kay Acting Senate President Win Gatchalian, kahit hindi ito abogado.
“Bagaman I wish to express my faith and confidence to Acting SP Win, alam ko napakarunong niya, napakasipag niya because I’ve seen him work for the past years already, very diligent siya sa trabaho. And I believe even if he is a non-lawyer, he can competently preside the impeachment court, no?” sabi niya.
Ayon kay Luistro, depende sa Senado kung kailangan pang pumili ng ibang presiding officer o ayusin muna ang posisyon ng Clerk of Court.
Mahalaga ito dahil maaaring sa tanggapan ng Clerk of Court manggaling ang notices para sa impeachment trial.
“Nonetheless, I made mention before the special session, that is only if they will be considering to elect a presiding officer other than Acting SP Win Gatchalian. Otherwise, I think we can proceed if the problem is only the notices because the Clerk of Court can actually issue that,” paliwanag ni Luistro.
Tinanong kung kailangan ba talaga ang special session para matuloy ang impeachment trial, sinabi ni Luistro na depende ito kung nakapili na ang bagong Senate leadership ng Clerk of Court noong reorganization.
“If my recollection is correct, mukhang during the election of the new leadership, walang na-elect na Clerk of Court. So if ever special session is necessary before the start of this impeachment trial, perhaps it will be for the purpose of electing the Clerk of Court,” ani Luistro.
Sinabi rin niya na tatanungin ng prosecution panel ang Senado kung awtomatikong puwedeng gampanan ng secretary general ang trabaho ng Clerk of Court kung wala pang hiwalay na election.
“I am not sure din if there is a rule that the Secretary General can automatically assume the position of the Clerk of Court in the absence of election. But we will be inquiring this concern as well with the Senate,” sabi niya.
Gayunman, iginiit ni Luistro na hindi dapat tumigil ang proseso kung ang isyu ay notices lamang at kung kikilalanin ng bagong Senate leadership na puwedeng gampanan ng Senate secretary general ang clerk functions.
“Since we have the Acting SP, and the notices can be issued by the Clerk of Court, if the new leadership is aligned to the position that Senate Secretaries may assume the position of the Clerk of Court, I think can proceed,” ani Luistro. /Bistado