Prosecutors told: Take courage, stand up, bring PH past dark chapter

MANILA, Philippines — The prosecution panel in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial has been urged by Catholic priests to remain courageous in the face of hardships brought by their role, noting that their role will be crucial in moving the country past its dark period.

In his homily during a mass at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Quezon City, Monsignor Melchor David said it would not be a stretch if he would say that the prosecution, being tasked to present evidence against Duterte, will be the voice of God that will urge the “Filipino people to rise up and walk.”

The mass, celebrated by different priests from the Diocese of Cubao and those from the Clergy from Good Governance, was offered for the prosecution team as trial is set to start on July 6.

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“In the gospel, He [Jesus] said, ‘rise, pick up your stretcher and go home.’  My dear brothers and sisters, the Filipino people are looking up to July 6th as an opportunity for the whole Pilipino people to rise up and walk,” David said, speaking mostly in Filipino.

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“And maybe it would not be a stretch if I say that in the name of priests and bishops in the Philippines, that you assigned as prosecutors for this impeachment trial of the Vice President, will be the voice of God addressing the Filipino people to rise up and walk through your courageous and truthful presentation of evidence that will finally bring darkness at back of our human history, and bring light to the life of the Filipino people,” he added.

David said the Filipino people are expecting the prosecutors to fulfill their role courageously.

Several members of the prosecution panel are present during the mass, including lead prosecutor and Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro, Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, Manila Rep. Joel Chua, San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora, Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor, Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao, and private prosecutors Lorna Kapunan and Marforth Fua.

“My dear persecutors, my dear private persecutors, the whole Filipino people is looking up to you.  Fulfill your duty with courage, but not courage coming from your own hearts, but courage from the heart of the Lord: the heart that constantly beats for love of the poor, for love of the truth, for love of justice, for love of peace,” David said in Filipino.

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“And may God in his mercy lead you on the path you have to take so that when time comes that we will face the Lord’s judgment, what we will hear as advice and reminder is an acknowledgment of your contributions to the Filipino people,” he added.

Murky times

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David also told mass-goers about a game he played when he was younger, where coins are placed on a basin filled with water.  To add a challenge, David said cornstarch is added to the water to make it more murky.

According to David, the prosecutors will be the one who would find the proverbial coin for the Filipino people.

“They place cornstarch and muddle up the water so that the coins’ position will remain hidden.  Now, you prosecutors, our respected lawmakers, you hold the coins, you hold it,” David said.

“Because it is through your clear presentation of evidence that we will be able to move through this murky water experienced by the country.  You will move so that the truth will finally come out and be seen by the Filipino people,” he added.

As this is a daunting task, David said the prosecutors need to take courage from God.

“But with what you will do, we know that you, our beloved lawmakers and private prosecutors, have to take courage not from human society, but from God,” he said.

“You need wisdom that is not measured by the lives you have, but rather by the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  You need the strength to carry the burden of the whole Filipino people searching for truth and searching for the right path that we have to take in the future,” he added.  “And in presenting the truth, I do believe many of our senator-judges will finally be convinced and vote for the truth.”

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 DepEd and OVP, amassing of unexplained wealth disproportionate to her income, bribery of DepEd officials using monetary gifts or payments, and threats to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, and the former House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.

Last June 9, the Senate Impeachment Court issued a notice inviting the parties to the pretrial conference which started last June 18.  The pretrial conference was concluded last Thursday, with both parties finishing with the marking of evidence.

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

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. /jpv