Manila: Several lawmakers at the House of Representatives on Friday urged senators to dismiss any attempts to terminate the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte through technicalities or procedural shortcuts, insisting on the necessity of hearing the evidence in an open trial.
According to Philippines News Agency, House Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms chair Zia Alonto Adiong of Lanao del Sur emphasized the Senate's constitutional duty to conduct a trial and assess the evidence before rendering judgment. Adiong expressed concerns over the possibility of the impeachment trial being dismissed or remanded back to the House before evidence is heard, which he believes would disservice the public, especially after the House has fulfilled its constitutional responsibility.
Adiong highlighted Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano's May 14 letter to Speaker Faustino Dy III. The letter mentioned the convening of the impeachment court but did not assure the actual commencement of a full trial where evidence would be presented. Cayetano's letter stated that the Senate had taken the proper order of impeachment and would proceed to consider it under Article XI, Section 3 of the Constitution. However, the letter's mention of the phrase 'absent any question on the rules and procedure relating to the transmitted Articles' has raised concerns about potential procedural challenges that could derail the case.
Adiong warned that any dismissal or remand of the Articles without a genuine hearing would deepen public suspicion regarding the Senate leadership's intentions and urged against entertaining motions to dismiss without a proper hearing. He called for the case to be heard openly, with evidence received and tested.
Other lawmakers, including Akbayan Party-list Reps. Chel Diokno and Percival Cenda±a, along with Mamamayang Liberal Party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, echoed Adiong's sentiments, stating that dismissing the case without a full trial would violate the Constitution and damage the institution's credibility. They emphasized the public's right to see the evidence presented.
Diokno and De Lima, members of the House prosecution panel, stressed that the Constitution mandates the Senate to proceed with the trial once the Articles of Impeachment have been transmitted. They warned that dismissing the complaint once the Senate convenes may violate constitutional guidelines. De Lima also noted the House prosecution panel's ongoing discussions about whether its members would appear at the Senate on Monday to confirm the transmission of the Articles of Impeachment.
The House of Representatives had voted 257-25-9 on May 11 to transmit the Articles of Impeachment against Duterte to the Senate. The Articles cover allegations of misuse and irregular liquidation of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery of education officials, and threats against President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former Speaker Martin Romualdez.
