For now, the Senate has decided to exclude incumbent senators who are detained, in hiding, or medically incapacitated from the voting process. As a result, these senators are not counted in determining what constitutes two-thirds of all members of the Senate. Even before and immediately after the resolution, some legal pundits transformed themselves into constitutionalists.
Legal discussion is healthy, but lawyers should distinguish analysis from advocacy. Some have been quick to declare that the conviction of Vice President Sara Duterte is practically secured because the number of votes supposedly needed has been reduced. Others have been quicker to say that the votes have already been predetermined along political lines. But one thing remains beyond debate: the Senate has the sole power to try and decide impeachment cases.
Armed with this constitutional authority, the Senate may resolve procedural matters as part of its impeachment function. It may make its own rules. But that authority does not give it license to interpret the Constitution with reckless abandon. This is why the impeachment court resorted to amicus curiae, or friends of the court who offered different interpretations, although some appeared more persuasive than others. Except for Justice Adolfo Azcuna, these former Supreme Court Justices opined that ‘all members of the Senate’ refers only to those who can actually participate in the impeachment trial. They applied the spirit and purpose of the provision rather than relying solely on the literal meaning of ‘all members.’ I can only anticipate that the sitting Supreme Court justices may themselves have differing opinions as well.
For every law that is written, there is an intent that serves as its backbone. Words tell us the what; intent tells us the why. Words may appear to mean one thing, yet the purpose behind them may not always be completely captured by their literal language. And that is where division and confusion begin.
The same thing has happened with a simple Gospel message which has been interpreted in different parts of the world by different ‘experts.’ There is only one Gospel message but it has been explained, qualified, expanded, and sometimes distorted through the centuries. Three fundamental words: died, buried, resurrected. And why did He do it? The Bible provides the answer: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ (John 3:16) The reason for saving sinners is love. Yet some have overlooked that reason and have required additional conditions before salvation can be accepted. The apostle Paul himself encountered such distortion: ‘I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel-which is really no gospel at all.’ (Galatians 1:6-7) Whether in the laws of man or the law of God, the distortion of words can arise from convenience, self-interest, or a desire to achieve a predetermined result.
Whether the framers of the Constitution intended ‘all members’ to mean every incumbent senator regardless, remains for the Supreme Court to determine. Likewise, whether salvation is a gift of grace or something that must be earned continues to be debated in some religious circles. We should not lose sight of the underlying reason behind each law.
The constitutional provisions on the accountability of public officers were written to provide a mechanism for addressing serious violations of public trust. Impeachment is both legal and political in character, but its constitutional purpose is straightforward: public officials who breach the public trust may be subjected to a process for their removal. The Gospel speaks of something far greater. It speaks of salvation. The Christian message is that God is both just and merciful. Sin carries the penalty of death, yet God, because of His love, provided salvation through Jesus Christ. Salvation is not a reward earned through prayers, alms, good deeds, or religious performance. It is a gift received through faith. The Gospel is not complicated: Christ died. He was buried. He was resurrected. Those who believe are called not merely to recite those words but to live them and allow that belief to manifest itself in their words and actions.
People may attempt to control outcomes by interpreting words according to their interests. Lawyers may argue over what ‘all members of the Senate’ truly means. Religious people may add requirements to a Gospel that was meant to proclaim grace. But words should not become servants of our desired conclusions. We may choose what words to believe. And when we do, we act on such belief. The Constitution must be interpreted according to its text and ultimate purpose of justice. The Gospel must be understood according to its message of grace and love. The real question is what happens to those who presume that sovereignty and destiny are theirs to control.
Siegfred has a diversified set of education and experiences which has made him a game changer and a servant leader in organizations. His professional degrees came from the United States Military Academy at West Point in New York, Ateneo Law School, and University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA. His corporate experiences include stints as general counsel for the country’s flag carrier, a food exporter with manufacturing plants in Davao and in Laguna, and a sports distributor company. Siegfred is a former soldier and a lawyer by profession, a teacher and inspirational speaker by passion, and a book author and a writer with a mission.