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Philippine Senate to Conclude Impeachment by December
Philippine Senate President Aquilino Pimentel said November 27 that the senate is likely to settle the impeachment case against President Joseph Estrada within December so the issue would no longer drag on in the campaign period for next year's senatorial and local elections.
In a press conference, Pimentel warned that prolonging the impeachment proceedings beyond December this year would create bigger problems for members of the senate, hinting it could jeopardize political plans of those who are planning to run in the 2001 polls.
Pimentel said he is hopeful that the proceedings could be concluded before the end of the year, adding that "if I'm not that hopeful then I am afraid that the election period will overlap with the impeachment trial and that will cause even a lot more problems for us."
He said the senate remains committed to expedite the trial of President Estrada and to render judgment on the case before the year ends, saying the chamber will convene as an impeachment court on Tuesday to hear the motion to quash by the defense lawyers.
Senator Miriam Santiago, for her part, said the motion to quash filed by the defense lawyers "will not significantly delay" the proceeding, saying the senate can order the House of Representatives to cure the alleged defect in the articles of impeachment by simply amending it.
President Estrada's defense lawyers filed last week the motion to quash, arguing that the articles of impeachment did not contain the 73 signatures required under the constitution before it can be filed with the senate.
The impeachment trial against President Estrada was triggered by allegations that he received more than 500 million pesos (US$10 million) from illegal gambling operators and kickbacks from tobacco exercise taxes.
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