THE Senate on Friday morning denied Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ motion to dismiss the articles of impeachment against him.
The vote was 4 in favor and 3 against. Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider said five votes were needed to pass the motion.
The Senate will now proceed with an impeachment hearing starting on May 13, Friday, at 10 a.m. in the Senate chamber.
Besides Hofschneider, fellow Republicans Victor B. Hocog, Francisco Q. Cruz and Karl King-Nabors voted to dismiss the articles of impeachment. Voting no were Democratic Sen. Edith Deleon Guerrero, and independent Sens. Paul A. Manglona and Teresita A. Santos.
Senate Floor Leader Vinnie Sablan and Senate Vice President Justo Quitugua, both Republicans, were excused due to their respective conflicts of interest.
Sablan is the running mate of the governor while Quitugua’s mother and the governor’s maternal grandfather are siblings.
It was Senator King-Nabors, who acted as floor leader during the session on Friday, who made the motion to vote on the motion to dismiss the articles of impeachment.
Prior to the vote, Senator Manglona asked to be allowed to make a motion allowing House members to appear before the body.
He said during Tuesday’s Senate hearing, Hofschneider and the Senate legal counsel said that this motion would only be allowed during a session.
Asked by Senator Hocog if Manglona’s motion was in order, Senate legal counsel Jose Bermudes said based on Senate rules, Manglona’s motion was out of order.
But according to Manglona, “rules are made to be broken if it’s good for us we follow the rules….”
Hofschneider replied, “Senator Paul I respectfully ask that we stay within the context of the argument. Let’s not belittle the process. You and I know…you’ve been a presiding officer for a while.”
Manglona said he had another point to make.
“I understand where you’re going and I totally understand and I appreciate the passion,” the Senate president said. “I understand exactly where you’re going with this…. Even if we want to amend any rule — impeachment rule, Senate rule, it’s going to require the members in [their] entirety, and you know that the nine of us are not here….”
He then told Manglona to “wrap it up.”
Manglona, for his part, repeated what Rep. Tina Sablan stated during the public comment portion of the session regarding Hofschneider’s possible “conflict of interest” — the Senate president would become lt. governor in case the governor is convicted and removed from office.
Representative Sablan is the Democratic candidate governor.
Manglona said Representative Sablan also asked if there were “close familial relations” between the governor’s legal counsel, Anthony Aguon, and the Senate president.
“Senate Paul,” Hofschneider said, “I think we’re done…”
Manglona tried to cut in, but Hofschneider said, “No, your time on the floor is yielded.”
The senators then voted on the motion to dismiss the articles of impeachment.
Manglona voted “no to this kangaroo court.”
“Clerk,” the Senate president said, “please make note of that remark of one of the members; legal counsel make note.”
On Jan. 12, 2022, the Republican governor was impeached by the Democrat-Independent-led House of Representatives on allegations of felonies of theft, corruption and neglect of duty. He has denied the charges.
Six votes in the nine-member Senate are needed to convict the governor and remove him from office.
The Senate holds a session on Friday morning.
