February 20, 2012 - Some 100 members of the House of Representatives went to the Senate on Monday to show support to the prosecution team on Day 20 of the Corona impeachment trial. Due to the lack of quorum, Deputy Speaker Jesus Crispin Remulla was compelled to suspend the regular session early.

Monday afternoon's session only lasted five minutes. Remulla said most of the House members said they were going to attend the impeachment hearing in the Senate.

"Early today there was a wave of text messages about our members being asked to support the team in the Senate, so when we looked earlier, there were already 60 members of the House at the Senate. That's why we have to suspend the session at least for today. Bukas ay magreresume ulit," he noted, even as he also apologized to people in the House gallery for the abrupt suspension of the session.

House deputy minority leader Milagros Magsaysay said that she was very disappointed after today's suspension, asking what good would it have done to be showing such support to the prosecution team: "At ano bang magagawa namin if we show our moral support to the prosec team there?" she added.

Magsaysay said only the 11 members of the prosecution team should be attending the impeachment trial in the Senate: "Our job is to legislate. We should be finding solutions to problems such as prices of oil, electricity, water and commodities."

Kabataan Party-list Representative Raymond Palatino said he hopes that today's suspension will not happen again.

He said that members of the House of Representatives can show support by concentrating on their legislative duties. "[It's] okay to troop to the Senate but unnecessary to suspend session."

ACL / Reportage from Anjo Alimario