Sara Duterte impeachment: Senator-judges split over presiding officer

MANILA, Philippines — The election of a new presiding officer emerged as the first issue debated by senator-judges when the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte opened on Monday.

Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian, who presided over the opening of the impeachment court at around 2 p.m., called for the election of the court’s presiding officer after delivering his opening statement.

“Pursuant to Rule 2, paragraph 2 of the rules of procedure on impeachment trials as amended, we now proceed to the election of the presiding officer of the impeachment court,” Gatchalian said.

READ: LIVE: VP Sara Duterte impeachment Day 1

But as he was about to call Senator-Judge Panfilo Lacson for the election of the presiding officer,

Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano raised a point of order.

Citing the 1987 Constitution, Cayetano insisted that the Senate president should preside over the impeachment trial.

Gatchalian reminded Cayetano that the rules were amended during the June 3 session of the Senate as a legislative body and nobody objected at that time.

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