Impeachment trial, wish granted para kay Sara?

MUSTULANG katuparan ng hiling ni Vice President Sara Duterte ang hudyat ng pag-arangkada ng paglilitis ng Senado sa Articles of Impeachment na inihain ng Kamara.

“The Vice-President has consistently claimed that the proceedings in the House of Representatives were not fair and that she will only answer the charges before an impartial impeachment court, making this trial absolutely imperative. We are looking forward to their promised participation,” kantyaw ni Surigao Del Sur Rep. Robert Ace Barbers na tumayong lead chair ng House Quad Comm sa ilalim ng 19th Congress.

“I am thankful that Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano convened the Senate into an Impeachment Court forthwith, putting a stop to the discordant noise and speculations that the Senate will delay the constitutionally mandated proceedings. More importantly, it gives the camp of the Vice-President the chance to participate and present their evidence to counter the charges,” wika ng veteran Mindanaoan lawmaker.

Ayon kay Barbers, na dating chairman ng House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, malaki ang tiwala ng House impeachment team sa kakayanan ng pamumuno ng Senate president dahil sa malalim nitong kaalaman sa legal procedures at technicalities.

“All eyes are now focused on the Cayetano court and we trust that a fair and impartial trial will be conducted and that the Senator-Judges will decide the matter based on the strength or weakness of the evidence presented,” dugtong ng kongresista.

“Although we all know that an impeachment trial is political, we are hopeful that the interest of the country will be the paramount consideration by the Senator-Judges in handing out their verdict. As former President Manuel Quezon said, ‘my loyalty to my party ends where my loyalty to my country begins,’” dagdag ni Barbers.

Aniya, higit pa sa impeachment court, ang taumbayan ang may karapatan marinig ang mga testimonya at ebidensyang ipiprisinta sa impeachment trial upang maging gabay sa pagkakaroon ng tamang pananaw sa mga alegasyon laban sa bise presidente.

“It is the people who deserve to hear and see the evidence for themselves. It is their right to make sure that their elected leaders who presented themselves as qualified public servants are serving them truly, truthfully, honestly and faithfully,” aniya pa.

Iginiit naman ni House prosecutor at Mamamayang Liberal Partylist Rep. Leila de Lima na ang impeachment trial ay oportunidad para sa nasasakdal na sagutin ang mga kinakaharap na reklamo.

“Alalahanin po natin that this is also due process for VP Sara. So pagkakataon niya ito. It’s time for her to face and answer the accusations against her,” punto pa ng former lady senator at justice secretary.

“Kung walang kasalanan, dapat walang iniiwasan o walang dapat iwasan. Wala rin dapat pagtatakpan at hindi dapat ito hinaharang. So, pagkakataon niya ito. This is due process for her,” diin ni de Lima.

Nagpahayag naman ng kagalakan si House Assistant Majority Leader Zia Alonto Adiong, na itinalaga bilang House prosecution panel spokesperson sa pag-convene ng Senado bilang impeachment court, na isang positibong panimula para umusad na ang proseso ng pagsasakdal sa bise presidente.

“We laud the Senate President and members of his majority for sticking to their word on the convening of the impeachment court. We expect that this is a portent of things to come,” ani Adiong, chairman ng House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms.

“After the preliminaries like compliance with the requirements of due process, the trial should get underway. And it should be free from politics, distraction and obstruction,” sambit pa ng mambabatas.

“Though the Senate president announced that trial would be set at some future time after due process prerequisites are met, we hope there would be no delay in the trial. We are holding the Senate leadership and senator-judges to their word.”

Sa panig ni Deputy Speaker at Iloilo Rep. Janette L. Garin, sinabi niyang magandang panimula ang aksyon na ito ng Senado at kaabang-abang ang mga susunod na kaganapan sa inaasam na fair, orderly, and evidence-based process.

“The Senate’s convening is a promising opening salvo. It tells the public that the constitutional process is moving, and that both sides will now have the proper forum to be heard,” ayon kay Garin.

“Magandang simula na malinaw ang timetable. May panahon ang Bise Presidente na sumagot, may panahon ang prosecution na tumugon, at may pagkakataon ang taumbayan na makita ang proseso,” dagdag niya.

Sinabi ni Garin na dapat umusad ang impeachment proceedings na mayroong ganap na pag-iingat, dignidad at respeto sa Senado bilang isang impeachment court.