House leaders: Move to stop Duterte trial strips chance to see evidence

MANILA, Philippines — Any move that would derail or stop the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte will strip the people of the chance to see and assess the evidence against the country’s second-highest official, leaders of the House of Representatives said on Tuesday.

In a statement, Deputy Speaker Paolo Ortega V said the Filipino people will lose the most if parties succeed in preventing evidence against Duterte from being released publicly.

“The most important thing now is for evidence to be laid down. Before we judge, let us listen to the entire case. Let us not block the process. The evidence is not only for the impeachment court to see, but for all the Filipino people,” he said in Filipino.

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“If we fail to present the evidence, the losses will not be for either side only. The ones who will lose the most are the Filipino people who have the right to know the truth,” he added.

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Ortega also said political noise should not affect an accountability mechanism laid down by the Constitution itself.

Prosecution panel spokesperson and Lanao del Sur Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong aired the same sentiments.

“Well, it’s already an established fact that under the Constitution, the Senate’s mandate is to try and decide, meaning to say there has to be a time for the proper trial to be conducted and for the evaluation of the evidence and the testimony of the witnesses for both panels to cross-examine,” Alonto Adiong said in a television interview.

“It was not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution that the Senate can outrightly dismiss the case or the articles of impeachment,” he added.

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Another prosecution panel spokesperson, former Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, said social media campaigns should not be the reason why people decide on the case against Duterte.

“The impeachment process exists for a reason. It is a constitutional mechanism designed to establish the facts through evidence presented before an impartial court,” Barbers said.

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“They (public) deserve to hear the evidence first,” he added. “Whether one supports or opposes the impeachment is ultimately a matter of personal opinion. But everyone should agree on one principle—that the constitutional process must be allowed to proceed.”

Last May 11, Duterte was impeached for a second time after 257 House lawmakers voted in favor of adopting House Resolution (HR) No. 989, which contains the Articles of Impeachment. Only 25 members voted against it, while nine abstained.

READ: Impeached anew: House OKs articles vs Sara Duterte again with 257 votes

The articles were hinged on Duterte’s alleged misuse of confidential funds lodged within the Department of Education (DepEd) and Office of the Vice President, amassing unexplained wealth disproportionate to her income, bribery of DepEd officials through monetary gifts or payments, and threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Last Thursday, the pretrial conference for the impeachment proceedings concluded, with both parties finishing the marking of evidence.

On Monday, copies of the pretrial order were released, stating that the Senate Impeachment Court approved the 92 trial days proposed by the prosecution and defense teams, who will also share 17 witnesses.

“The proposed number of trial dates is 62 for the prosecution and 30 for the respondents,” the order stated.

READ: Senate impeachment court OKs 92 trial days, 17 shared witnesses

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Trial begins on July 6 at 2 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays until July 27.  After that, the trial shall begin at 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays until its termination. /mcm