Mga complainant ni Sara, ubos na ang pasensya

PARA sa iba’t ibang grupong aktibong nagtulak sa impeachment complaint laban kay Vice President Sara Duterte, higit na angkop ipursige ang paghahabol para tuluyang panagutin at lapatan ng parusa ang pangalawang pangulo.

Para sa hanay ng impeachment complainants, civil society leaders at anti-corruption advocates, nakakasawa na ang “pa-victim effect” at drama ni VP Sara, gayundin ang pag-antala sa impeachment proceedings at pag-iwas na direktang sagutin ang kinakaharap na kaso.

Sa isang joint statement ng signatories ng first at third impeachment complaints, na kinabibilangan ng former government officials, religious leaders, legal experts at social movement representatives, hayagang kinatigan ang desisyon ng House prosecution panel na pagtuunan na lamang ng pansin ang natitirang unexplained wealth case laban sa bise presidente.

“We, the complainants in the First and Third Impeachment Complaints against Vice President Sara Duterte, together with various social movements and anti-corruption advocates, reaffirm our faith in and support for the House prosecution team. We view its decision to drop three of the four impeachment articles as a strategic move to focus on the evidence and bring the proceedings to a timely resolution,” saad sa pahayag.

Kinontra rin nila ang argumento ng mga abogado ni Sara. Anila, ang pagbawi sa tatlong impeachment articles ay naglagay sa alanganin sa nasasakdal dahil hindi na nila masasagot ang mga ipinukol na bintang ng prosekusyon.

Ayon sa grupo, ang pag-urong sa tatlong impeachment charges ay hindi nangangahulugan tinalikuran na ang paninindigan manaig ang pananagutan o accountability sa hanay ng public officials.

Bagamat hindi na tatalakayin sa impeachment court ang tatlong binawing kaso, tiniyak naman ng mga na banggit na grupo ang pagsasampa ng criminal complaints kay Duterte.

“In fact, two of the dropped charges are already being pursued through other legal avenues. Several signatories to this statement have already filed a plunder complaint before the ombudsman against the vice president over the alleged misuse of her multi-million-peso confidential funds,” saad pa nila. 

“Meanwhile, the grave threats case is being heard before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. Justice does not begin and end with the impeachment proceedings,” dagdag ng naturang koalisyon.

Hinamon nila ang defense team na patunayan ang alegasyong na dahil sa pag-atras sa tatlong impeachment cases ay pinagkaitan ang nasasakdal ng karapatan at pagkakataon sagutin ang mga ito.

“We reject the drama of Sara’s lawyers that the dropping of the three articles constitutes a denial of due process. The defense was offered the opportunity to alternate its presentation of evidence with the prosecution for each article but rejected the proposal,” dugtong pa nila.

“The House prosecution simply exercised its prerogative to narrow the case it intends to pursue, and the Senate impeachment court accepted that decision. The irony is that the defense’s repeated attempts to delay and prolong the trial are precisely why narrowing the case has become necessary,” punto rin ng grupo.

Sinabi pa ng koalisyon na ang naging pagtutol ng mga abogado ni Duterte ay hindi dahil dismayado silang hindi masagot ng huli ang inatras na impeachment charges bagkus ay nadiskaril ang plano nitong pahabain ang paglilitis

 “Their reaction exposed that what truly frustrates them is not a denial of due process, but the loss of an opportunity to further delay and prolong the trial.” 

“The Filipino people deserve a timely resolution, not endless procedural wrangling that delays judgment. Due process is a right, not a license to delay accountability or frustrate the ends of justice,” anila pa.

Ilan sa signatories sa first impeachment complaint ay sina former Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles; Josua Mata ng Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO); Fr. Flavie L. Villanueva, SVD; former Rep. Teodoro “Teddy” Brawner Baguilat Jr.; Fr. Robert Reyes, ng Clergy for Good Governance; at Rowena Amon ng Student Council Alliance of the Philippines.

Habang ang signatories sa third impeachment complaint ay kinabibilangan nina Sr. Geraldine Denoga, DC; Fr. Joel Saballa; Fr. Joselito Sarabia, CM; Sr. Ma. Lisa Ruedas, DC; Fr. Edilberto Baculi, CM; Pastor Leonard Arevalo; Fr. Rogelio dela Rosario; Sr. Violeta Cecilio, DC; Maria Loreto Lopez at lawyer Dino S. de Leon, counsel para sa third impeachment complaint.

Nasa hanay naman ng anti-corruption advocates at social movement representatives sina retired Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio; University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman professor Jean Franco; former Finance Undersecretary Cielo Magno;  retired Rear Adm. Rommel Jude Ong;  former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Diwa Gunigundo; Analyn Borbe;  Mardi Mapa-Suplido;  EveryWoman;  Akbayan Youth Chairperson Khylla Meneses;  Volt Bohol ng August Twenty One Movement (ATOM);  Professor Victor Manhit; Boni Macaranas at Roy Calfoforo ng PANDAYAN.

Lumagda rin sa joint statement sina lawyer Jose Sonny G. Matula ng NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition; Renato Magtubo ng Partido Manggagawa; Sr. Dian Perey, DC;  Sr. Gertie dela Cruz, DC; Sr. Shirley Ann Tingson, DC; Cebu Bohol Relief and Rehabilitation Center Director Paz Vicente; De La Salle Green Hills faculty member Agnes Alonsozona; Fr. Albert Alejo; Socorro Reyes; Sr. Josie Onag, DC; Visitatrix of the Daughters of Charity Sr. Purita Espaldon, DC; Sr. Mary Lou Espora, DC; Sr. Ramonita Meris, DC at mga iba pa.