DABAWENYO Senator Christopher "Bong" Go has expressed his full support for the motion to archive the impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Sara Duterte, stressing the need to move forward and concentrate on the Senate’s primary duty – crafting laws that serve the Filipino people, especially the poor.
In a speech explaining his vote, Go emphasized the importance of setting aside political distractions to fulfill their constitutional mandate.
“Mag-move on na tayo upang mas magampanan natin ang ating mga pangunahing mandato — at ito ay ang magpanday ng mga batas. Batas na makakatulong sa mga mahihirap nating kababayang Pilipino,” said Go, underscoring that real public service lies in legislation that responds to urgent needs.
(Let us move on so we can better fulfill our primary mandate — and that is to craft laws. Laws that will help our poor and underprivileged fellow Filipinos.)
He also cited the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that declared the impeachment complaint “unconstitutional and void” due to procedural and due process violations. According to Go, this decision should put the matter to rest.
“The Supreme Court has already spoken. In crystal clear language… Wala na dapat tayong impeachment na pag-uusapan sa ngayon,” he said. “Let us all buckle down to our work. The people expect nothing less from us.”
Go called on his fellow lawmakers to redirect their time and energy to measures that would uplift lives, particularly those of the marginalized.
On August 7, the Senate voted 19-4, with one abstention, to archive the impeachment complaint, in accordance with the Supreme Court decision that cited grave abuse of discretion by the House of Representatives in the exercise of its impeachment powers.
Those who voted against archiving were Senators Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros, and Francis Pangilinan while Senator Panfilo Lacson abstained.
Meanwhile, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano explained that the impeachment case is effectively dead unless the Supreme Court overturns its decision.
To archive a case means it is removed from active consideration, effectively shelved, and no longer subject to deliberation or action. However, it remains part of Senate records and may be revived only through a majority vote.
The move allows the Senate to redirect its full attention to its legislative work while preserving the possibility of revisiting the issue should future developments warrant it. DEF