THE Senate leadership will meet today, Tuesday, Jan. 18, to discuss, among other things, House Resolution 22-14, which calls for the impeachment of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres on charges of felonies of theft, corruption and neglect of duty. He has denied the allegations.
On Wednesday, the Democrat-led House voted 15 to 4 with 1 abstention to impeach the Republican governor.
The members of the 22nd Senate leadership are Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider, Senate Vice President Justo S. Quitugua, Senate Floor Leader Vinnie Sablan, Sens. Victor B. Hocog, Frank Q. Cruz, Karl King-Nabors and Teresita Santos. All are Republicans except for Santos, an independent who caucuses with the GOP.
Sens. Paul A. Manglona, an independent aligned with the Democrats, and Edith Deleon Guerrero, a Democrat, comprise the Senate minority.
The governor will be removed from office if at least six of the nine senators vote for his conviction.
On Friday, Jan. 14, at 1:59 p.m., House clerk Linda Muna transmitted the impeachment resolution to the Senate.
No one among the senators interviewed by Variety on Monday wanted to speak on the record regarding the impeachment resolution.
But Variety was told that the Senate president is expected to form a Senate Special Committee on Rules of Impeachment.
In February 2013, after then-Gov. Benigno R. Fitial was impeached by the House — by a vote of 16 to 4 — Hofschneider, as Senate president, appointed then-Senator Torres as chair of the Senate impeachment committee.
Fitial resigned before the Senate could hold a trial.
Jude U. Hofschneider
