The Filipino people should first hear all the evidence before making any judgment on the impeachment case against Vice President Sara Z. Duterte, House trial spokesperson and impeachment adviser Robert Ace Barbers said.
Barbers appealed as the Senate impeachment court prepares to begin trial proceedings.
He urged the public to allow the constitutional process to proceed instead of being swayed by competing political narratives.
“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, a former Surigao del Norte representative, said.
“The Filipino people should not be asked to decide based on slogans, speculation, or social media campaigns. They deserve to hear the evidence first,” Barbers, former chair of the House Quad Comm, added.
Barbers, also a former chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, said the focus should remain on ensuring that the impeachment court is able to hear the case without unnecessary delays.
“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,” he said.
He stressed that the Senate impeachment court, not politicians or online commentators, has the constitutional duty to determine the outcome of the case.
“The Constitution entrusts the impeachment court—not public noise, not political rhetoric—with the responsibility of deciding the case after hearing the evidence,” Barbers said.
“Every step that allows the presentation of evidence strengthens public confidence in our institutions. The Filipino people deserve nothing less,” Barbers added.