Former Senator Richard Gordon has stated that members of the Senate majority bloc could potentially face charges of dereliction of duty or abandonment of duty. This follows the group's boycott of two consecutive plenary sessions on June 1 and June 2.
Possible legal action
According to Gordon, any individual may file a case before the Supreme Court to question the actions of the majority members, particularly their failure to attend the scheduled plenary sessions without acceptable justification. He added that counterparts of the senators or members of the House of Representatives could also initiate proceedings against the bloc for dereliction or abandonment of their duties.
Arrest not a valid excuse
Gordon emphasized that the arrest of Senator Jinggoy Estrada is not a sufficient reason for the chamber to halt its scheduled sessions. He also stressed that differing political affiliations among senators should not be an obstacle to holding discussions on important matters.
The former senator's remarks highlight the seriousness of the boycott and the potential legal consequences for the majority bloc. The issue underscores the need for senators to fulfill their legislative duties regardless of political differences or external events.
