ADMINISTRATION lawmakers yesterday urged senators to heed what they said is growing public clamor for the Senate to immediately begin the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.
Deputy majority leader Paolo Ortega V (La Union) and assistant majority leader Ernesto Dionisio Jr. of Manila were reacting to a plan of progressive groups to hold rallies to urge the Senate to already convene as an impeachment court.
Senatorial aspirants from marginalized sectors, meanwhile, also said the trial should start without further delay. In a debate among candidates on Wednesday night, they said the sitting senators are committing dereliction of duty by delaying the process.
Dionisio, in a press conference yesterday, expressed confidence that senators would eventually heed the people’s group’s call instead of sticking to the plan of Senate President Francis Escudero to start the trial after President Marcos Jr’s state of the nation address in July.
“We trust that they’ll do the right thing and they’ll be sensitive to the pulse of the people. They’ll probably not think twice about heeding the people’s call to action,” he said in Filipino, stressing that it is the right of people’s organizations to call for Duterte’s trial to proceed without delay.
Ortega, speaking at the conference in mixed Filipino and English, said, “Although we understand that there are frustrations coming from different groups, we here in the House of Representatives, of course, respect their (Senate) jurisdiction. But they should listen to the pulse of the majority.”
“As I’ve said, it’s hard to preempt that. Although, if the public clamor is as big as that, maybe they need to reassess of look at what’s the best course of action to take,” he added.
While expressing respect for the Senate’s decision, members of the prosecution team have said the impeachment proceedings should begin as soon as possible as mandated by the Constitution which provides that trial shall “proceed forthwith.” Defensor said it means the trial should be held immediately while stressing the House respects the Senate’s decision on the timeline of the trial.
PLAYING SAFE
The senatorial aspirants from the marginalized sectors were unanimous in calling for the trial to start without further delay. They declared their stand during the last segment of the “Tapat na Serbisyo: 2025 Senatorial Debate” at the San Beda University Wednesday night.
Environmentalist Roy Cabonegro, labor leader Luke Espiritu, transport sector candidate Mar Valbuena, former Gabriela party-list Rep. Liza Maza, and farmers rights advocate Danilo Ramos said sitting senators are committing dereliction of duty by delaying the process.
“This is the first time in our history that members of the Senate are turning their backs on their sworn duty. The sitting senators are trying to avoid work by passing it on to the next Senate,” Cabonegro said
He accused the senators of using the mid-term elections as a gauge of public sentiment and playing safe rather than getting on with their mandate.
“Don’t you think horse-trading is now happening on both sides to ensure their allegiances when the impeachment is put to a vote? The impeachment trial should start right away. It is critical that voters choose 12 candidates who will hold their ground on this,” he added.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Espiritu called the impeachment trial a “national imperative” to hold accountable even officials at the highest positions of power.
“Our country has not seen a public execution of plunderers and mass murderers. Our society has yet to gain the capacity to impose punishments against criminals, that is why they are the ones now holding the reins of power,” the lawyer said.
He said Filipinos should look at how Germany got rid of leaders of Nazism, how Italians executed Benito Mussolini, and how Cubans mowed down generals and soldiers of the Batista regime through firing squad.
“In the Philippines we kicked out a dictator but elected his son as president. We are a confused people. When we learn to apply the weight of the law, we will understand true accountability. We want to see Sara Duterte stripped of office and Rodrigo Duterte punished because we also want the Marcoses held accountable,” Espiritu said.
Valbuena pointed out that the source of the initial P125 million confidential fund of the Office of the Vice President that triggered a congressional inquiry was Malacañang itself hence, President Marcos Jr should be part of the investigation.
“If we apply the rules evenly, first we should ask why only Sara Duterte is the target. Why is Marcos not being asked about the funds? They should both be held to account,” he said.
Maza said if the country is to move forward and have a restored trust in the constitutional processes, the trial should not admit any dilatory maneuvering.
“The nation needs to see that the processes are working in order to move forward. Let the Duterte impeachment roll forward unimpeded,” she urged senators.
For Ramos, the reluctance of the Senate to let the impeachment trial take its intended course is sending the signal to the Filipino public that there are personalities in government who are above the law.
“The charges are betrayal of public trust and plunder of P612.5 million. If the impeachment is delayed and the evidence not considered, no one will be held accountable. In such cases, it is always the farmers, the common people, the masses who bear the brunt of misgovernance. We have senators now seeking reelection who were previously indicted for plunder but allowed to go scot-free,” the peasant sector leader lamented.
PREPARATIONS
Ortega confirmed reports the secretariat held a meeting with private lawyers and volunteer groups to discuss preparations for the impeachment trial. He also said the Wednesday meeting was primarily for familiarization and served as an opportunity for potential legal volunteers to introduce themselves.
The members of the House prosecution panel are Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez (PL, 1-Rider), Lorenz Defensor (Iloilo), Gerville Luistro (Batangas), Romeo Acop (Antipolo City), Joel Chua (Manila), Raul Angelo Bongalon (PL, Ako Bicol), Loreto Acharon (General Santos City), Arnan Panaligan (Oriental Mindoro), Ysabel Maria Zamora (San Juan City), Jonathan Keith Flores (Bukidnon), and minority leader Marcelino Libanan.
The Articles of Impeachment, which the House transmitted to the Senate on February 5, accuses Duterte of alleged violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, graft and corruption and other high crimes based on specific impeachable offenses which includes her alleged threat to have President Marcos Jr. assassinated.
