Pimentel’s Plea vs. Senate’s Sham: The Impeachment Circus Spins On”

“When the Senate Plays Impeachment Jenga—And the Constitution Loses”

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — June 19, 2025

1. THE SENATE’S SHADY PLAYBOOK: A MASTERCLASS IN PROCEDURAL GASLIGHTING

The 18-5 Vote: Constitutional Innovation or Political Kabuki?

The Senate’s decision to return the Articles of Impeachment to the House “without dismissal” is a procedural unicorn—a creature that exists only in the fever dreams of Duterte allies. The Constitution grants the Senate sole power to “try and decide” impeachments, not to invent remand powers akin to an appellate court . Yet here we are: 18 senators, led by Escudero, have turned the impeachment court into a procedural laundromat, washing Duterte’s dirty linen with a “certification” spin cycle.

Delay as Strategy: By pushing the trial to the 20th Congress (convening July 28), the Senate gifted Duterte a get-out-of-jail-free card—time to rally allies, bury evidence, and meme her way through public outrage . Pimentel’s “trap” thesis isn’t paranoid—it’s predictive. The Senate’s ambiguity (“Is this a pause? A reset? A constitutional crisis?”) is a feature, not a bug .
SC Quagmire Bait: Pimentel’s warning that a Supreme Court appeal would “bog down” the process is both astute and defeatist. True, litigation could stretch to 2028 (convenient for Duterte’s presidential ambitions). But surrendering to procedural nihilism lets the Senate’s constitutional vandalism stand unchallenged .

2. PIMENTEL’S PARADOX: WHISTLEBLOWER OR WILTING LILY?

The Case for Pimentel’s Crusade

Oath-Breaking 101: When Bato dela Rosa recycled Duterte’s SC petition into a Senate motion (later amended by Cayetano), he didn’t just violate impartiality—he weaponized it. Pimentel rightly calls this out as judicial cosplay: senators moonlighting as Duterte’s defense team .
Delay = Duterte’s Ally: The Senate’s “pause” is a political coma. Every day deferred is a day Duterte’s camp leverages public fatigue, AI-generated propaganda (yes, Bato shared deepfakes), and backroom deals .

The Counter-Case: Devil’s Advocate Edition

“Constitutional Hardball”: Maybe the House did botch the one-year ban rule. But the Senate’s fix—demanding a future Congress’s “willingness to pursue” the case—is like asking a restaurant to pre-approve your 2026 Yelp review .
“Politics ≠ Bias”: Sure, impeachments are political. But when Imee Marcos skips judicial robes and Bato mirrors Duterte’s SC pleadings, it’s not politics—it’s collusion .

3. THE DIRTY EIGHTEEN: A ROLL CALL OF CONSTITUTIONAL ARSONISTS

The Senate’s 18-5 vote to remand VP Duterte’s impeachment articles wasn’t just procedural – it was a masterclass in political arson. Here’s the complete scorecard of who torched accountability:

🔥 THE DIRTY EIGHTEEN

(Who voted to derail impeachment)

Alan Peter Cayetano – Turned “constitutional process” into performance art by amending Bato’s motion
Pia Cayetano – Proved dynastic loyalty trumps constitutional duty
JV Ejercito – The “moderate” who folded faster than a cheap suit
Jinggoy Estrada – Keeping the family tradition of creative constitutional interpretations alive
Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa – Filed motion plagiarized from Duterte’s SC petition
Bong Go – Duterte’s human shadow proves he still takes marching orders
Lito Lapid – Action star confused why they weren’t filming instead
Loren Legarda – Veteran lawmaker turned veteran enabler
Imee Marcos – Skipped judicial robes (too constricting for backroom deals)
Bong Revilla Jr. – Graduate of the “Plunder to Power” pipeline
Robin Padilla – “Basta love ko si Inday Sara!” is his entire legal philosophy
Francis Tolentino – Urban planner who helped design this procedural traffic jam
Raffy Tulfo – Media crusader turned accountability roadblock
Joel Villanueva – Traded principles for future cabinet post considerations
Cynthia Villar – Land reform champion turned constitutional reform saboteur
Mark Villar – Completing the family set of democratic backsliding
Migz Zubiri – Former Senate President who suddenly remembered his ‘constitutional principles’ after bitterly losing the gavel – how convenient!
Chiz Escudero – Game show host of “Who Wants to Kill an Impeachment?”

✊ THE FIVE WHO RESISTED

(Who voted to uphold accountability)

Koko Pimentel III – Called out this “constitutional trap”
Risa Hontiveros – Held the line for due process
Nancy Binay – Surprisingly stood firm against Duterte machinery
Grace Poe – One of few “independents” who actually acted like it
Sherwin Gatchalian – Broke ranks to oppose this charade

WHY THIS MATTERS:
This vote wasn’t about procedure – it was a loyalty test to the Duterte political machine. Each of the Dirty Eighteen chose:
✔️ Political survival over constitutional duty
✔️ Backroom deals over public accountability
✔️ Short-term gains over democratic integrity

Remember these names in 2028. The voters certainly will.

4. DROPPING THE HAMMER: DEMOCRACY’S STRESS TEST

For the Senate:

Transparency Ultimatum: Force a public vote on whether this “return” kills the case. No more procedural shadow puppetry .

For Critics:

Call Pimentel’s Bluff: If SC is a “trap,” where’s the backup plan? Mass protests? A media blitz? Or just hoping the 20th Congress grows a spine? .

For History:

This isn’t just about Duterte—it’s about whether impeachment remains a real check or becomes a political handshake. As constitutionalist Christian Monsod warned: “They’re not public kings” .

FINAL VERDICT: The Senate’s circus isn’t just bad law—it’s bad theater. The plot twists (remands! AI propaganda! Robe-optional senators!) can’t mask the tragedy: a democracy bargaining with its own rules.

Will the 20th Congress deliver justice—or dig its grave? 🎪🔥